National Guard Selects SkyPort And IDirect For Emergency Response System

EARTH OBSERVATION

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Houston TX (SPX) Sep 16, 2004
SkyPort International and iDirect Technologies Wednesday announced that the National Guard has selected their joint satellite solution to provide an emergency communications network to National Guard teams designed to assist civilian agencies during crisis management events and terrorist threats.

These teams, known as CERFP (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package), will support civilian first-responder teams around the country.

The satellite networks deployed to these teams will provide a high speed Internet Protocol (IP) network supporting secure voice, video and broadband data in the event of loss or degradation of landline communication networks.

The National Guard contract calls for multiple fixed and/or mobile satellite links at 33 initial sites around the country.

As backup to terrestrial communications, this satellite network will re-connect various agencies including the National Guard, City and State Emergency Management Agencies, and Federal DHS resources.

The complete deployed solution will utilize the SkyPort network, and iDirect's Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology, to support enterprise-class connectivity for IP based services such as video, data, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and internet access.

This VSAT network can provide data at speeds from 64 kbps to 4.2 Mbps from the remote site and up to 9 Mbps from the hub to the remotes.

"The National Guard deployment fits perfectly in the SkyPort mission of providing secure and reliable communications infrastructure for commercial and DOD/Homeland Security customers," said Roger Klotz, President and CEO SkyPort International.

"The ability to combine the most appropriate technology with our secure reliable network, in support of Disaster Prevention and Recovery events, is unique in the industry."

"The solution we've developed with iDirect will provide all the state, local and federal first responder agencies with mission critical information - survivable and accessible from anywhere."

The contract was awarded to SkyPort and iDirect based on the performance of their solution at the JUICE04 (Joint User Interoperability Communications Exercise) conducted by members of the Missouri National Guard, the National Guard Bureau, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and St. Louis City and County offices.

The National Guard selected this system based on its ease of deployment and management, its Quality of Service (QoS) supporting VoIP, video and data, its ability to support multiple virtual LAN (VLAN) networks, and the fact that it offers the only FIPS 140-2 3DES certified satellite link encryption available today.

"We are very excited to be a part of this solution with SkyPort," said John Kealey, CEO of iDirect Technologies.

"The iDirect solution has been put to the test in thousands of military deployments around the world, and proven its flexibility, reliability and ease of use."

"It's exciting to see our technology make a very appropriate expansion into homeland security supporting state and local governments in first response applications."

EARTH OBSERVATION

Wireless World Troubling Gaps In 'e-911'

Chicago (UPI) Sep 10, 2004
A driver crashes his Mercedes C230 while on a rural route in upstate New York. Severely injured, he manages to dial 911 on his mobile phone. The dispatcher asks him what his specific location is, but, dazed, he has no particular details that can help emergency personnel. The driver passes out and dies before the paramedics reach him.

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