Sumter Electric Cooperative Scales Up Network Capacity With Exalt

Microwave Backhaul Systems Deliver SCADA, Video, Data Traffic; Enable Future SmartGrid Applications


CAMPBELL, CA--(Marketwire - June 15, 2010) -  Exalt Communications, the company that is reinventing microwave backhaul, today announced that Sumter Electric Cooperative of Sumterville, Florida has deployed Exalt microwave backhaul systems to link key substations and a field office with the corporate headquarters. The new Exalt systems carry Ethernet and native TDM to handle the SCADA, video surveillance, and data traffic the utility needs to serve its 170,000 customers in central Florida.

"We wanted to implement more automation at our substations, install security cameras, and eventually add VoIP phones out at substations as well as prepare for SmartGrid applications, but our legacy radio systems couldn't deliver the capacity," said Jonathan Hicks, telecommunications coordinator at Sumter Electric Cooperative. "The Exalt microwave systems have given us plenty of bandwidth and they have been completely reliable."

Exalt partner TerraCom of Lawrenceville, Georgia recommended the Exalt all-indoor microwave backhaul systems. As configured for Sumter Electric Cooperative, the systems serve substations in Inverness, Florida and carry 50 Mbps of Ethernet data in the 5.8 MHz frequency band. Following the initial deployment, the company added an Exalt 2.4 MHz link to the Eustis office to connect it with the Sumterville operations center, some 20 miles away. This link handles 50 Mbps Ethernet plus one native T1 line for the office telephone system. These Exalt systems are software upgradeable to carry up to 200 Mbps and 16 T1s if necessary.

"Sumter Electric Cooperative and many other customers have discovered that enterprise-class radio systems don't provide the bandwidth and reliability needed for industrial applications," said Amir Zoufonoun, president and CEO of Exalt Communications. "And there is opportunity to reduce overall cost of ownership now that Exalt offers carrier-class microwave systems for as little as $5,000 per link, and delivers industry-leading performance and reliability in form factors and price ranges to fit any market and application."

The Exalt Microwave Backhaul Product Portfolio
All Exalt microwave backhaul systems offer guaranteed link availability, guaranteed throughput and low, constant latency. Systems are available in world bands from 2 to 40 GHz and in capacities from 10 Mbps to more than 1000 Mbps per channel, providing a range of options to fit countless network applications. Designed to enable a smooth transition to IP, they offer native support for both TDM and Ethernet, and are fully software configurable and upgradeable. For easy and secure management using third-party network management systems, Exalt systems support SNMP v1, v2c and v3. Data security is provided by available FIPS 197-compliant AES 128-bit and 256-bit encryption that adds zero latency to the transmission. To simplify installation and maintenance, all Exalt systems feature an embedded manual and most include a built-in spectrum analyzer.

About Exalt Communications
Exalt Communications provides next-generation microwave backhaul systems to service providers, government organizations and enterprises worldwide. Exalt systems are designed to solve the network bottlenecks associated with the growing demand for IP- based voice, data and video applications and the resulting migration from TDM to IP-based networks. With a flexible architecture and universal product platform covering multiple market segments, Exalt provides a full range of microwave radio systems that meet the demand for cost-effective and flexible alternatives to fiber and leased lines. www.exaltcom.com

Contact Information:

Media Contacts:
Pamela Valentine
VP Marketing
Outbound & Channel
Exalt Communications
pvalentine@exaltcom.com
408-871-1804 x351

Michael Schoolnik
Story Public Relations
michael@storypr.com
415-674-3816