New Multiband Radio Provides Real-Time Interoperable Communications
Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, recently introduced the first multiband land mobile radio that provides real-time interoperable communications for the growing federal public safety and homeland security market. Public safety communications interoperability has been identified by Congress, the National Governor's Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the 9/11 Commission as an urgent national priority and is a principal focus of the Department of Homeland Security.
"The Harris Land Mobile Radio allows federal agency personnel to talk to first responders and homeland security personnel -- whenever they need to -- without having to carry multiple radios," said Dana Mehnert, president, Harris RF Communications. "By enabling communications interoperability, our customers are much better equipped to effectively coordinate emergency response and joint operations.
"The federal agency market for land mobile radios is a natural expansion into an adjacent market, a market we believe is more than $600 million and growing. Expanding into adjacent markets is one of our core strategies. We will continue to invest in new product development and apply our extensive experience with defense and government customers throughout the world to broaden our opportunities."
The new Harris RF-1033M land mobile radio is the first product to provide homeland security and other public safety officials with direct, secure multi- agency communications across multiple frequency bands. The radio covers VHF and UHF frequency bands, providing true multiband, multimission capabilities for public safety communications.
Land mobile radios today are limited to single frequency bands, making it difficult for federal agencies and local public safety officials to talk to each other -- a problem highlighted during national emergencies such as the San Diego wildfires and Hurricane Katrina. Interoperability today is typically obtained only through an ancillary system of equipment.
The new radio is compliant with APCO Project 25, the technical standard for digital public safety radio communications developed by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. Because the new Harris Land Mobile Radio is software-defined, it is adaptable to evolving technical standards and changing mission requirements. The radio leverages Harris leadership in software-defined, multiband handheld communication products, which are used extensively around the world.