Cellular Specialties Helps Leading Apparel Manufacturer Button Up In-Building Wireless Challenges

Walls Industries, Inc. Overcomes Hurdles Associated With 3G Signal Interference to Ensure Reliable Wireless Coverage Throughout Its Headquarters


MANCHESTER, NH--(Marketwire - June 3, 2010) -  Further reinforcing its position as the market's recognized leader in the design and implementation of in-building wireless solutions, Cellular Specialties, Inc. (CSI) today announced Walls Industries, Inc. is successfully leveraging CSI's broad solution suite to ensure reliable wireless coverage throughout its headquarters. CSI was chosen for its knowledge and expertise of FCC regulations and 3G networks, as well as its extensive relationship with the market's leading wireless carriers. 

With more than 70 years in business, Texas-based Walls Industries is a market-leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded work-wear, hunting and outdoor apparel. Walls products are sold under a number of highly recognized brand names, including Walls™, Liberty™, Big Smith™, 10X™, Duxbak™, Zero Zone™, and Commander™. The company's product line includes a full range of insulated and non-insulated utility apparel for use in the workplace and recreational activities.

Operating in a historic manufacturing and distribution facility, Walls faced significant challenges in trying to acquire reliable wireless signals around its headquarters. "With the nearest cell tower more than seven miles away and our building constructed mostly of steel and concrete, wireless signal strength for our employees and executives was practically non-existent," said Tom Felton, chief information officer, Walls Industries, Inc. "In our business, executives live on their cell phones to get their jobs done effectively. Any interference with this ability can be extremely costly to our business."

Complicating the low coverage issue was the company's legacy, in-building wireless system. Furthermore, Walls was under increasing pressure from the FCC to update their cellular system, due to its overlap and interference with the local AT&T 3G network -- rapidly being deployed throughout the region.

"We had an in-building wireless system in place that we thought was fine -- but we were very wrong," continued Felton. "What we didn't know was that our in-building signal was interfering with the roll-out of AT&T's local 3G network in our area. We had some idea that AT&T had started to move into our county with a 3G signal, but never even suspected our in-building signal would interfere."

Faced with pressure from the FCC to shut down their wireless signal -- or face fines of up to $20,000 per day -- Walls had to take immediate action and contacted CSI to help find a new solution. For customers like Walls, CSI offers a range of solutions designed to boost the performance and call quality of in-building wireless networks. Products such as amplifiers/repeaters, in-line boosters, and multi-directional antennas are geared towards supplementing and expanding the scope of wireless signals in low coverage areas. Additionally, CSI's Custom Solutions Group (CSG) is the only in-building wireless service organization approved by all major wireless service providers in the United States -- including AT&T -- and has implemented numerous turnkey solutions including voice, data, WiFi, RFID and other wireless solutions. 

"One of the things we noticed was that CSI understood everything to do with in-building wireless solutions and what made them work -- period," said Felton. "They really had their game down. CSI was 100 times more knowledgeable than anyone we'd ever seen and clearly had the broad support of the major wireless carriers to ensure our new system met both AT&T and FCC requirements."

In nearly two weeks' time, CSI arranged for an approved system for Walls Industries and had it up-and-running -- and adhered to FCC and wireless carrier guidelines. Remarked Felton, "Once we found our current in-building system was interfering with the AT&T 3G signal, we had precious little time to correct the problem and revamp our infrastructure. The executives were demanding this service be up and reliable, so we had to act fast."

Specifically, for Walls Industries, CSI was able to design a carrier-approved system leveraging the CSI DSP85 digital repeater to support AT&T wireless coverage within the headquarters building. The selected solution utilizes Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology to achieve the highest level of performance and flexibility for Walls Industries.

The solution provides major benefits over traditional repeaters included unlimited spectrum agility, sharp filtering, and state of the art monitoring and control.

"CSI's Custom Solutions Group came in and knew exactly what we had to do to get this critical service up and running again," said Felton. "Their extensive experience and forged relationship with the market's premier wireless carrier and knowledge of FCC regulations ensured that we were back in business with minimal delay." 

According to a recent report by Pyramid Research, while the adoption of 3G networks is growing fast, the market can expect to see an even faster adoption rate for 4G networks. The report estimates that the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology will break the 100 million subscriber mark in just four years. 

With the estimated growth of 3G and 4G only expected to rise, Felton recommends companies to assess their current in-building wireless solutions to ensure there is no interference with current or future signals. Concluded Felton, "With the proliferation of 3G and 4G networks any company that's looking to implement in-building wireless solutions needs to be cautious when it comes to regulations and signal interference. Without hesitation, we would highly recommend CSI for anyone looking to solve their in-building wireless challenges."

About CSI

Cellular Specialties, Inc. (CSI) delivers superior products and turnkey installations that enable anytime, anywhere in-building wireless connectivity. The CSI Product Division specializes in the development of in-building amplifiers, repeaters, as well as a variety of other system components. CSI is the first company to introduce a digitally filtered repeater capable of processing the total carrier spectrum thus becoming a requisite provider for the nation's largest wireless carrier. To ensure that optimal services are provided, CSI formed the Custom Solutions Group (CSG). CSG has designed and installed thousands of turnkey solutions throughout the country. CSG also holds the distinction of being the only in-building wireless service organization approved by all major wireless service providers in the United States. For information about CSI call 877-844-4CSI or visit www.cellularspecialties.com.

Contact Information:

For More Information:
Jackie Abramian
Mike Emerton
BridgeView Marketing (For CSI)
207-439-0963
Jackie@bridgeviewmarketing.com
mike@bridgeviewmarketing.com

CSI's DSP85 Digital Repeater CSI/Walls Industries Case Study For an overview of CSI -- watch video