Harris Corporation Awarded $10 Million Contract to Deploy Public Safety Communications System in Pittsylvania County, Virginia
MELBOURNE, Fla./BOSTON, Mass.— Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has received a $10 million contract from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to deploy a public safety digital communications system based on P25 Phase 2 standards. The Harris P25IP (Project 25 to the Power of Internet Protocol) 700 MHz radio system will provide secure and reliable communications for the more than 1,000 first responders across the county’s 978 square miles and will allow direct interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions, including local, state and federal agencies. This new system is one of the nation’s first P25 Phase 2 radio systems in deployment, bringing Pittsylvania County important additional functionality such as increased efficiency in spectrum use and enhanced interoperability capability. The contract was awarded to Harris in the second quarter of its fiscal year 2012.
“Our extensive evaluation process determined that the Harris P25IP solution was the radio system best suited to support our public safety personnel in communicating during standard and mutual-aid emergency response situations,” said Jim Davis, Emergency Manager, Pittsylvania County. “Given the challenging geography of Pittsylvania County, having robust and reliable communications capabilities at our first responders’ fingertips is critical for their day-to-day operations. We’re certain that Harris technology is right for the job.”
Powered by the Harris VIDA® network, the eight-tower site system will enable enhanced interoperable communication for Pittsylvania County first responders with surrounding agencies. The Harris P25IP system will be supported by 1,200 Harris mobile and portable radios, including the P7300 portable and the award-winning Unity® XG-100P multi-band portable radio. The county also will deploy Harris’ trunked vehicular repeaters, powerful system tools capable of extending system coverage in both the 700 and 800 MHz frequencies.
“Harris demonstrated that it had the best understanding of Pittsylvania County’s critical applications, infrastructure and requirements, and that we designed a specific system that completely meets the county’s needs,” said Steve Marschilok, president, Harris Public Safety and Professional Communications. “The Harris P25IP solution will provide Pittsylvania first responders with world-class mission-critical voice and data capabilities, while meeting the county’s vast coverage requirements.”
The Harris VIDA network platform is a unified IP-based voice and data communication system based on APCO P25 industry standards. VIDA delivers full IP management features, including interoperability without intervention of console operators; IP consoles; and other benefits inherent in open IP architecture systems.
In public safety and professional communications Harris is a leading supplier of assured communications® systems and equipment for public safety, federal, utility, commercial and transportation markets — with products ranging from the most advanced IP voice and data networks, to next-generation, secure public safety-grade LTE (Long-Term Evolution) solutions for voice, video and data applications, to industry leading multiband, multimode radios. Harris has more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications and supports over 500 systems around the world.
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $6 billion of annual revenue and about 17,000 employees — including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.