Tait Communications Press Kit IWCE 2015
Contents 1. Online Press Kit 2. Note to Editors 3. Corporate Overview 4. Tait launches three new DMR products for critical industries at IWCE 5. Tait showcases new Unified Critical Communications solution at IWCE 2015 6. Tait wins Managed Services contract with PG&E 7. Queensland Rail selects Tait Communications digital voice and data system for Australia s largest rail network 8. Lexington public safety agencies no longer hamstrung by a proprietary communications system
Online Press Kit Visit our online press kit at http://www.taitradio.com/mediakit. Here are quick links and helpful information related to Tait news and announcements: IWCE Media Contact: Cornelia van Herel Phone: +1 832 622 7081 Email: cornelia.vanherel@taitradio.com Helpful Links: Tait news stories: http://www.taitradio.com/news Tait product information: http://www.taitradio.com/products Our clients: http://www.taitradio.com/clients
Note to Editors Tait, our partners and our customers will be featured throughout the conference agenda, including during the following sessions: Session M103: Project 25 Foundations and System Technology Updates for 2015 Tait presenter: Darek Wieczorek, Senior Director Global Services Offer Management Monday, March 16, 8:30AM 12:00PM, Room N253 Session T405: LMR and LTE: A Multi-Network Architecture Tait presenter: Darek Wieczorek, Senior Director Global Services Offer Management Tuesday, March 17, 1:00PM 4:30PM, Room N253 Session W08: The Smart Grid in a Broadband World Tait partner: John Wilkinson, Marketing Manager, MIMOMAX Wednesday, March 18, 11:00AM 12:15PM, Room N261 Session W18: A Communications Strategy that Makes Sense for Critical Infrastructure Tait presenter: Philip Mullins, Senior Solutions Marketing Manager, Tait Communications Wednesday, March 18, 1:15PM 2:30PM, Room N261 Session TH16: Best Practices in P25 Tait customers: Dean Hane, Emergency Radio Communications Manager, MACC 9-1-1, WA; Frank Kiernan, Director of Emergency Communications, City of Meriden, CT Thursday, March 19, 11:15AM 12:30PM, Room N255 Session TH29: Resilient Public Safety Networks Tait presenter: Darek Wieczorek, Senior Director Global Services Offer Management Thursday, March 19, 2:00PM 3:15PM, Room N257 Session F08: Component Interoperability The Key to Lower Costs Tait presenter: Darek Wieczorek, Senior Director Global Services Offer Management Friday, March 20, 9:45AM 11:00AM, Room N257
FAST FACTS WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO Our customers protect communities, power cities, move people, harness resources and save lives all over the world. We create and support their critical communications. From our strong position as leaders in radio communication technology, we work hard to gain a deep understanding of the issues, problems, and day-to-day working environments our customers experience. That is how we deliver robust, fit-for-purpose products, world class customer service, and communication system performance that is second to none. Our LMR products and systems are designed and built by our people. We stand by their quality, integrating, testing and perfecting everything we sell. Our specialties include P25 (Phase 1 and Phase 2), DMR (Tier 2 and Tier 3), MPT-1327, Analog Conventional, and software to manage and monitor those radio networks. We also recognize the increasing importance of business systems like dispatch, AVL, LTE, cellular, voice recorders, SCADA, and many more to come. We can integrate these diverse technologies to deliver stronger, simpler, and smarter critical communications. taitradio.com Founded: 1969 Ownership: Private (Charitable Foundation) Global employees: 650+ CEO: Garry Diack R&D spend: 15% per annum Global offices: Brisbane, Australia Christchurch, New Zealand Wellington, New Zealand Houston, USA Melbourne, Australia Singapore Vienna, Austria São Paulo, Brazil Founding member of the DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) Association Associate Member of the Utilities Telecom Council First Global Member of the Professional Digital Trunking System Industry Association, China Funding of P25 Solutions Centre, Sydney Funding and oversight of Wireless Research Centre, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
NEWS RELEASE For immediate release Tait launches three new DMR products for critical industries at IWCE Wednesday March 11, 2015 - HOUSTON Tait Communications is launching three new DMR solutions aimed at critical infrastructure organizations and channel partners at the 2015 International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) in Las Vegas, March 16-20. Utilities, natural resource organizations and transport agencies will have the chance to learn about the benefits of the new Tait DMR Tier 2 infrastructure, GridLink telemetry and Intrinsically Safe (IS) radios. The latest additions to Tait s portfolio, following the launch of its DMR Tier 2 terminals and Tier 3 trunked networks, offer customers and channel partners a complete portfolio of open DMR solutions that are tough, resilient and smart. Paul Daigneault, General Manager of Products & Platforms at Tait Communications, said the robust DMR portfolio will open the door to a broader customer base looking to upgrade their conventional analog systems to the benefits of digital radio. As with all Tait solutions, our DMR Tier 2 offering is scalable, interoperable and standardscompliant. This gives our customers the opportunity to plan and prepare for growth in their organization, safe in the knowledge that when the time comes they can easily migrate to DMR Tier 3, by simply upgrading license keys, putting powerful trunking options within easy reach. Tait has tested DMR Tier 2 with competitor radios to ensure interoperability, and with applications using the DMR AIS protocol including offerings from Omnitronics, Eventide, Logic Wireless, as well as Avtec and Zetron in the near future. Also on show is Tait GridLink, which adds SCADA telemetry data capabilities to DMR Tier 3 voice networks, offering significant cost and resiliency benefits to critical infrastructure companies which use automation to monitor power outages and control remote devices. GridLink will launch in April and has been trialed successfully by electric utilities around the world. Tait s new explosion proof, IS portable radios will be on display at IWCE. Certifying to the international standards set by IECEx and ATEX, the line of IP67 rated IS radios will support DMR Tier 2 and Tier 3, Analog, MPT-1327, or P25 Phase 1 and 2 modes of operation. Tait will be showcasing all three new solutions at booth #823 in the Las Vegas Convention Center at IWCE. ENDS
NEWS RELEASE For immediate release Tait showcases new Unified Critical Communications solution at IWCE 2015 Wednesday March 11, 2015 - HOUSTON Tait Communications will showcase its innovative new Unified Critical Communications solution for public safety at the 2015 International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) in Las Vegas, March 16-20. Tait will demonstrate its patented approach to bridging LMR and LTE networks at its booth (#823) in the Las Vegas Convention Center. Tait UnifyVoice provides office and field staff the ability to communicate via LMR networks and public or private cellular and Wi-Fi networks, to fill black spots, extend capacity and improve resiliency of critical communications. UnifyVoice provides organizations with more effective and efficient communications by integrating and providing the benefits of both Push-to-Talk over cellular and LMR to its staff to deliver seamless mobile communications, said Russell Watson, Senior Solutions Marketing Manager, Tait Communications. Customers can be assured that their P25 LMR investment will continue to be relevant with future broadband networks like FirstNet. Cornelia van Herel, Vice President of Marketing, Tait Americas, said: Our clients needs are continually evolving and, working closely with our market partners, we ve strengthened our portfolio of solutions for critical industries and public safety. Our products are designed around open standards, providing flexibility now and in the future, and integrate with both our own offerings and those of other industry leaders. The solutions we will have on show at the exhibition include P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2 networks that can address conventional, trunked, simulcast operations and extend into broadband. Tait partnered with SLA, a leading provider of PTT over Cellular, to power the client software for UnifyVoice using the ESChat SDK. Tait partners will also have exhibition booths at IWCE, including BEE Communications, Omnitronics, Panorama Antennas, MCM Technology, Exacom, Zetron, Avtec, Otto, Eventide, MiMOMax, Airbus, SLA EsChat and Pyramid Communications. ENDS
NEWS RELEASE Tait wins Managed Services contract with PG&E Monday November 24, 2014 - HOUSTON Global leader in the design, delivery and management of critical communications systems, Tait Communications has won a five year contract to provide Managed Services for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). PG&E is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States delivering energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. Under the agreement Tait will help manage the PG&E network so that their radio system is running optimally. The Managed Services agreement with Tait includes provision of Management Reports to support network optimization, Anywhere Asset Manager for centralized control of assets and 24/7 software and hardware support, as well as an on-site network engineer based at PG&E. Tait s Executive Vice President Global Services, Judd Cain, says that Tait launched its Managed Services business last year in recognition that Tait s expertise in critical communications could help utilities like PG&E achieve move value from their networks. Managing a critical communications network requires an extensive set of skills and tools. Tait has trained and experienced professionals with access to industry-leading management applications that can help utilities enhance network performance and efficiently manage assets, says Cain. We also have a Managed Services offering to support public safety, transportation and mining, oil and gas organizations that need to ensure they have safe, effective and resilient communications systems, adds Cain. PG&E s MPT Classic radio system is used to deliver mission critical voice communications to nearly 7,000 mobile and portable subscriber units across their 70,000 square mile service territory. The system is held to a rigorous 99.99% monthly uptime requirement. Tait s Managed Services business complements its Land Mobile Radio (LMR) portfolio, which provides digital and analog communications systems including P25, MPT and DMR all based on open-standards technology. Tait has 45 years experience in critical communications and has clients in more than 150 countries around the world. ENDS
NEWS RELEASE Queensland Rail selects Tait Communications digital voice and data system for Australia s largest rail network Tuesday September 30, 2014 - Brisbane, AUSTRALIA Queensland Rail has selected Tait Communications for the digital migration of its radio communications network. The Tait DMR (digital mobile radio) system will provide important communications infrastructure for Queensland Rail s day-to-day operations in and around Brisbane city. This system is core to the safe and efficient operation of the wider Queensland Rail network, the largest rail network in Australia. Tait is upgrading the radio communications system across 50 sites to provide a DMR Tier 3 trunked voice and data solution and will provide a significant amount of services for the design and deployment of the system. A spokesperson for Queensland Rail stated that the project team was happy with the selection of Tait Australia Pty Ltd for the design and implementation of the new digital train network replacement, following a competitive tender process. Brett Smythe, General Manager for Tait Asia-Pacific says We understand the importance placed on the reliable operation of this technology, and we re dedicated to achieving better business outcomes for all of our clients through a strong partnership model. Tait s emphasis on a comprehensive implementation and support plan, incorporating deployment, migration, risk management, change management and project management were all key factors in securing the contract. This isn t just a technology project, it s a people project, says Mr Smythe, so we place just as much importance on supporting the employees who use the system as we do on the hardware, software and applications that create the system. Thanks to the open standards technology on which all Tait products are based, the Tait digital terminals are compatible with Queensland Rail s existing analogue system, its existing Zetron consoles and location services data. This means the Tait DMR Tier 3 solution for Queensland Rail is future flexible, cost efficient, reutilizing existing assets and reducing the complexity of implementing the new system, says Mr Smythe. The Tait DMR tier 3 system is the no compromise digital trunked radio solution; engineered specifically to keep employees performing optimally no matter what the conditions.
Tait is well-known for supplying critical communications solutions to public safety agencies, utilities and transportation agencies including Brisbane Airport Corporation, Air France, London Bus, TriMet, and British Columbia Rail. ENDS
NEWS RELEASE Lexington public safety agencies no longer hamstrung by a proprietary communications system Thursday November 13, 2014 - HOUSTON Global leaders in the design, delivery and management of critical communications systems, Tait Communications and Airbus DS Communications, formerly Cassidian Communications, have implemented a P25 digital communications system for Lexington-Fayette Urban County including Bluegrass Airport. The open-standards-based solution includes an 800MHz P25 digital trunked network from Airbus DS Communications, along with 800 Tait 9155/9160 terminals purchased under Tait's Smart Value Plan. Director of Enhanced 9-1-1 for the City of Lexington, Kentucky, Robert Stack, says the Tait Smart Value Plan made the purchasing decision a no risk process. "In the past, proprietary systems have pretty much hamstrung us into buying only one brand of portable or mobile. The shift to P25 open standards has been a really positive thing for us because it allowed us to specify the best vendor for the best price," said Stack. "We knew that Tait radios delivered in terms of quality but the Tait Smart Value Plan also removed the uncertainty and risk from the purchasing decision." Mr. Stack says that the interoperability of Lexington's communications system will help to save public and first responders lives. "In the past, police and fire departments had to communicate by relaying messages via dispatch, which caused delays in information reaching our first responders in life-critical situations such as hazmat or armed offender events. Now, we have seamless point to point communications so we can make decisions and act quickly," says Stack. The Tait portables and mobiles are providing Lexington's police officers with enhanced audio quality and noise reduction as well as encryption to ensure that police communications are secure. Police Chief Ronnie Bastin says, "Our department has now entered the 21st century with this technology and we're extremely proud of our new communications system. Officers are finding it very user friendly and very efficient." Tait is committed to developing open-standards-based solutions and works with partners around the world to demonstrate the interoperability of their solutions through certification programs such as Airbus DS Communications' Interoperability Testing Program (IOT). Tait's VP Market Development & Solutions Engineering, Bill Fillman says, "Implementing a digital communications network based on open standards means public safety agencies can choose from a range of vendors to get the solution that best fits their needs for the long term. The Tait
Smart Value Plan has provided Lexington with the added assurance that they'll be upgraded to the latest model of Tait radio in five to eight years' time." Lexington-Fayette Urban County is a community of more than 300,000 people. Enhanced 9-1-1 handles 500,000 calls per year including 200,000 emergency calls across two sites. Bluegrass Airport services around 500,000 passengers each year. ENDS