Cape Canaveral's Missile Launch Communications Will Run On General
DataComm's APEX ATM Switches
MIDDLEBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 16, 1999--General DataComm Industries, Inc. (NYSE: GDC - news) today announced that System
Technology Associates Inc., a defense, civil and commercial systems integrator, has selected the GDC APEX-DV2 ATM switch as the new platform to handle all mission-critical backbone communications needs at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida.
STA selected the GDC ATM system under provisions of the General Services Administration/Federal Systems integration and management (GSA/FEDSIM)contract.
GDC was chosen over nearly a dozen vendors to replace the Cape's extensive legacy data network, upgrading it to 21st Century speed, reliability and affordability.
As the primary telecommunications component in the Eastern Range's standardization and automation program, GDC APEX® switches were chosen to improve operations efficiency and reduce time-to-launch cycles. Low-speed data applications will be aggregated to high-speed ATM multiservice switches carrying voice, data and telemetry throughout the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral.
''Today, it takes up to four days to reconfigure and test the launch network at the Eastern Range for different launch vehicles such as the Titan or the space shuttle,'' said STA Project Leader Donald Breaker. ''Such a long lag time can be cut to only four hours or less with the efficiencies gained using GDC APEX equipment.''
The GDC APEX switch won over 11 major competitors--three of which made it into final performance trials--meeting or exceeding stringent network specifications, standards conformance, as well as Air Force and STA interoperability, reliability and 15-year life-cycle requirements.
The APEX network STA is building for the Air Force will utilize OC3 circuits, connecting low-speed source data from 130 multiplexers over the high-speed ATM backbone. The ATM switches will ''talk'' to the backbone where legacy data, voice, telemetry and eventually video all will travel smoothly over a secure, always-up network optimized for space exploration activities.
''The high-reliability, operating efficiency and scalability of ATM switching is especially well-suited for mission-critical enterprises like those STA will use in service for the Air Force,'' said Keith Mumford, vice president and general manager, GDC Broadband Division. ''GDC APEX's carrier-class engineering provides STA with the assurance that they can deliver the performance demanded by the Department of Defense and the Air Force and does so in a cost-efficient manner.''
The GDC APEX-DV2 is a scalable concentrator and multi-service switch designed to support a wide range of applications such as those demanded by STA and the Air Force.
The APEX-DV2's ability to provision multiple services and deliver TDM to ATM migration on a single platform ensures its cost effectiveness in constructing high-speed private wide area networks.
The GDC APEX-DV2 is part of the GDC APEX family of leading platforms delivering ATM service in some of the world's most advanced and demanding networks.
Key features of the GDC APEX family include:
Concurrent support for multiple services including voice, data and video;
-- Cost-effective, leading edge AAL2 Voice over ATM;
-- Integral multimedia interfaces including MPEG-2 video
capabilities; Frame Relay and Frame UNI (FUNI) switching
and HDLC/SDLC transport over ATM;
-- Circuit emulation to protect existing investment;
-- Native LAN interconnection and concentration.
About System Technology Associates Inc.
STA (www.stai.com) is headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, and supports customers from a variety of defense, civil, and commercial agencies. The company provides life-cycle-engineering services using systems technology and focuses its resources to exceed customer expectations and continually improve their processes by investment in people, infrastructure, and technology development. STA provides leading-edge engineering, technical, analytical and multimedia support to a wide range of DOD organizations.
About General DataComm
GDC (www.gdc.com) is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of multi-service communications systems for service providers and enterprise businesses. The GDC APEX® multi-service switching platforms are used extensively within the world's largest public ATM Wide Area Networks. A broad range of Advanced Network Access products provide universal access system DSL solutions; integrated analog, DDS and T1/E1/T3 access products; all managed under a distributed, open network management framework, ProSphere(TM).
GDC is headquartered in Middlebury, CT, USA, and has an extensive network of subsidiaries and partners located throughout North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim.
All GDC products mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of General DataComm, Inc., a wholly owned operating subsidiary of General DataComm Industries, Inc.
Contact:
General DataComm, Inc.
GDC Public Relations
Christine Byrne, 203/574-1118
or
GDC Director of Corporate Communications
Richard M. Miles, 203/574-1118
or
LNS Communications
Suzanne Marcarelli, 617/577-9777 |
