Raytheon wins first competitive Public Safety Long Term Evolution broadband communications network contract

Posted by Courtney E. Howard

DENVER, 7 July 2011. Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) won what is not only the first competitive Public Safety Long Term Evolution (LTE) contract in the U.S., but also first contract under the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), for recipients of the FCC 700 MHz Broadband Waiver. Under terms of an $8.7 million contract, Raytheon engineers will provide Adams County, Colo., and the adjacent Denver communities with a 15-site LTE communications system designed to deliver public-safety user access to next-generation broadband capabilities, including streaming video, remote data access, and information sharing.

The system will become part of the nationwide public safety LTE network, designated to provide broadband data services to all levels of first responders. Raytheon will be responsible for system design, equipment, system configuration, project management, installation, testing, and training.

"Raytheon took the time with our team up front to determine exactly what our needs were and proposed an LTE solution that was tailored to our unique situation that incorporates both public safety and critical infrastructure," explains Brian Shepherd, deputy director, Adams County Communications Inc. "Raytheon's solution allows our 1,500 diversified users to efficiently communicate during both normal operations and emergency situations."

The 4G LTE system will be deployed over the next 21 months and is being funded via an ARRA-2009 stimulus grant under the U.S. Department of Commerce BTOP, which is managed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

"We teamed with IPWireless, a recognized LTE market leader and the first to produce LTE user equipment for first responders. LTE is positioned to meet both current and future regional communications objectives for first responders for years to come," says William Iannacci, director of Raytheon's Civil Communications Solutions business unit.