Garland Texas Installing New Wireless Technology for First Responders

The city of Garland, Texas, is changing its first responders' mobile data communications network from a cellular-based CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) to a wireless broadband NexNet system from NexGen City. The new system will provide full coverage over 57 square miles. Lockheed Martin Space Operations Division was awarded the contract in September 2003 and has partnered with NexGen City as the project's system integrator. The project is the first and geographically largest deployment of mobile mesh networking technology for use by a public-safety organization. System implementation is well under way and is scheduled for completion during the second quarter of 2004.

The NexGen City solution was selected after completion of the project's test phase across a five-square-mile area along Highway 190 during 2003. Units deployed in the field using two vehicles traveling more than 60 mph in opposite directions successfully demonstrated real-time streaming video, voice over IP calls, and data throughput rates of up to 1.5 Mbps. The contract calls for data communications implementation initially. Voice and streaming video capabilities will be added in the future, if required.

"We awarded this contract to Lockheed Martin and NexGen City for three compelling reasons," said Darrell McClanahan, Garland's telecommunications manager. "First and foremost, NexGen City's NexNet solution makes high-speed data communications a reality for our city's first responders -- police officers, firefighters, and medical emergency teams -- who serve Garland's 221,000 residents. Being able to send and receive data reliably and up to 50 times faster than before, while in transit, will have an enormous impact on how our first responders manage a crisis and solve our city's daily public-safety challenges."

"Second," McClanahan continued, "the NexNet network is cost-effective and saves taxpayers money. While improving our public-safety data communications capabilities, we eliminate expensive towers, subscriber fees and zoning issue headaches associated with our old system."

"And third," added McClanahan, "the system is flexible and scalable. We have the ability to add voice and streaming video capabilities in the future, all running over the same network."

Network Components
The network is based on a micro-cellular architecture that places router functionality in every network component. This creates a self-forming and self-healing network with peer-to-peer networking capabilities. NexGen City's approach embeds a wireless router in every device so that each unit can extend the network, determine optimum paths for data transmission, and provide additional paths for connectivity. The dynamic routing capability of the network enables devices to hand off communications seamlessly even while used in vehicles traveling at high speeds.

Unlike conventional cellular or fixed wireless communications systems that require expensive antennas and individual devices with sufficient power to communicate with the tower, NexGen City's architecture enables greater connectivity through more points of access as well as better system throughput by reducing demands on the wireless infrastructure. The network supports sustained data rates of 1 Mbps and bursts to 6 Mbps.

NexGen City's components and applications that constitute the NexNet network include:

• NexPaq, handheld personal communications device
• NexCard, PC Card (PCMCIA Type II) for use in a laptop
• NexRouter, intelligent wireless repeater
• NexAccess, intelligent wireless gateway
• NexLocator, geo-location software embedded in all network components
• NexServer, wireless, Web-based administration servers for control and command centers

NexRouter and NexAccess are deployed on existing infrastructures, such as buildings, streetlights or traffic lights in a grid, or mesh fashion, forming a tight network with no single point of failure. User devices NexPaq (scheduled for production in mid 2004) and NexCard act as repeaters, so that the more devices that are available, the more signal paths that are created, and the more fault-tolerant the network becomes.

All components utilize technology and ASIC chip sets developed by MeshNetworks, Maitland, Florida. NexGen City is the first licensee of MeshNetworks' ASIC and is the only OEM to deploy products that were developed in-house using this technology.

The NexNet system includes NexLocator, a robust geo-location application that does not require satellite-based GPS receivers. Each fixed device supports latitude, longitude and elevation attributes, while triangulation calculations produce the same attributes for each mobile device registered on the network.

NexGen City's network supports standard TCP/IP, DHCP and SNMP protocols.