FAA Inaugurates East Coast Satellite Communications Gateway for FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure Satellite Network
July 19 2006 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
WOODBINE, Md., July 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Representatives of
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Harris Corporation
(NYSE:HRS), Americom Government Services, and Globecomm Systems
Inc., will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Woodbine,
Maryland today to inaugurate the first of two "gateway" teleports
for the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) satellite
communications network, or FTI-SAT. The Woodbine gateway and
another teleport located in California will serve as the downlink
sites for all remote terminals that are part of the FTI-SAT
network. Harris is the prime contractor and system architect for
the FTI program. "The FTI-SAT network is a key component of the
overall FTI program, and the inauguration of the East Coast gateway
is yet another milestone that will move the FAA closer to realizing
the dramatic cost savings of transitioning from its legacy
satellite network," said John O'Sullivan, FTI program vice
president for the Harris Government Communications Systems
Division. "The satellite network will serve as critical links
within the overall FTI network, providing all of the FAA's remote
sites with the best communications technology available for the
best value." FTI-SAT is replacing legacy satellite equipment at
remote FAA sites to improve support of radar, weather, and
air/ground communications. The new FTI-SAT network enables the FAA
to utilize satellite, microwave or telecommunications technology to
provide best-value communications. To date, 30 of 43 satellite
sites have been completed and have received customer acceptance.
Full service cutover will be complete by the end of August 2006.
Americom Government Services (AGS) and Globecomm Systems, Inc.
(GSI), are teammates on the FTI-SAT effort. AGS is responsible for
the space segment of FTI-SAT, which includes the satellite
transponder and the two gateway earth stations. GSI is responsible
for the installation and maintenance of the remote satellite earth
stations. Harris is responsible for end-to-end performance, system
design, monitoring and control of the FTI infrastructure that
connects the gateways to the FAA's Air Route Traffic Control
Centers and to the FTI Primary Network Operations Control Center
(PNOCC). Through the PNOCC, satellite communications can now be
managed and monitored from a single location, providing the most
advanced security sensing and monitoring available today. This
added level of network management also ensures that satellite
communications receive the same level of service as all other
communications services operating as elements of the FTI network.
During the 15-year FTI program, Harris is upgrading and improving
telecommunications and operations functions at more than 4,400 FAA
facilities nationwide, providing the FAA with a safer, more
efficient network that is expected to save hundreds of millions of
dollars in operating costs over the life of the program. FTI
equipment has now been installed and accepted at more than 1,600
FAA facilities, and more than 7,000 operational services have been
accepted and are in service nationwide. Transition from the more
costly major legacy services to the FTI network is expected to be
completed by December 2007. Harris is leading a team of top
telecommunications companies consisting of AT&T, BellSouth
Corporation, Qwest Communications International, Sprint, Verizon
Communications, and Raytheon Technical Services. The team is
consolidating the Leased Interfacility National Airspace System
(NAS) Communications System (LINCS), the Data Multiplexing Network,
the Bandwidth Manager, and the National Aviation Data Interchange
Network, into an integrated telecommunications infrastructure.
Requirements include replacing more than 20,000 circuits, upgrading
switching and routing services, improving network monitoring and
control, implementing a state-of-the-art security system, and
providing network-engineering services. Harris Government
Communications Systems Division conducts advanced research studies,
develops prototypes, and produces and supports state-of-the- art,
assured communications(TM) solutions and information systems that
solve the mission-critical challenges of its military and
government customers, while serving as the technology base for the
company's diverse commercial businesses. Harris Corporation is an
international communications and information technology company
serving government and commercial markets in more than 150
countries. With headquarters in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
annual sales of over $3 billion and more than 13,000 employees,
including 5,500 engineers and scientists. The company's four
operating divisions serve markets for government communications, RF
communications, broadcast communications, and microwave
communications. For more information, visit http://www.harris.com/
. Sound interesting? Find great jobs at Harris:
http://www.careers.harris.com/ DATASOURCE: Harris Corporation
CONTACT: Sleighton Meyer, Government Communications Systems
Division, +1-321-727-6514, or , or Brent Dietz, Corporate
Headquarters, +1-321-724-3554, or , both of Harris Corporation Web
site: http://www.harris.com/
Copyright
Harris (NYSE:HRS)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024
Harris (NYSE:HRS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024