General Dynamics [GD] has created a new business designed to pursue opportunities in broadband wireless communications for the public safety, industry and defense markets.
General Dynamics Broadband was stood up last month within the C4 Systems business area after GD acquired IPWireless, a provider of 3G and 4G LTE wireless broadband network equipment and solutions that has a solid footprint of customers in the state and local public safety market. GD Broadband also consolidates GD’s acquisition last year of Fortress Technologies, which provides secure local wireless networking equipment for the U.S. and government customers.
The capabilities that Fortress provides will enable GD Broadband to bring added mobility to 4G and also provide coverage inside of buildings that may be difficult to service with a wider area network.
Combined with GD Broadband, C4 Systems can provide customers with next-generation wireless solutions, mobile computing products and devices, infrastructure solutions such as communications towers, command and control systems, and large scale systems integration, Manny Mora, senior vice president for GD C4 Systems, tells HSR.
The first major business opportunity for GD Broadband is the FirstNet nationwide next-generation, interoperable public safety broadband network that was launched earlier this year as part of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. The law provides key communications spectrum for the public safety community and enables the federal government to raise $7 billion towards deployment of the network by auctioning broadcast spectrum.
How FirstNet will roll out for services and equipment procurement is still being determined but GD believes “it is in a good position to provide a whole suite of solutions and services for FirstNet, building on the technology IPWireless brings to our proposal but also the experience General Dynamics has in deploying large networks and providing command and control and end use devices for those networks,” Bill Jones, vice president and general manager for GD Broadband, tells HSR.
While FirstNet is a “big part of the strategy” for GD Broadband, the company already does business with the oil and gas industry for secure communications, local governments, and sees opportunities to provide wireless communications for border control initiatives and to the international market, Jones says.
Through the IPWireless purchase, GD Broadband is the primary subcontractor to Northrop Grumman [NOC] on the New York City Wireless communications project that has provided an interoperable communications network to first responders and other users in that city with demand for other applications growing. Last year the New York City Wireless program was extended for another five years.
GD is also a subcontractor to Raytheon [RTN] on a 4G LTE communications system being deployed in Adams County, Colo., which Jones says is a “forerunner” to the FirstNet type of deployments that are coming.
Given that 4G LTE is a global standard means that GD Broadband will have international opportunities.
“We are seeing similar type applications and opportunities around the world,” Jones says, referring to demand for the FirstNet capabilities elsewhere.
Whether GD pursues broadband wireless business opportunities as a subcontractor or prime contractor will be made on a case-by-case basis, Jones says. FirstNet will be based on open architectures so there will be a lot of partnering within industry, Mora says.
GD is deploying a large-scale communications network for the Coast Guard called Rescue 21 which enhances maritime distress capabilities through a series of fixed towers located along the coastal regions of the U.S. The company is also the prime contractor on a Washington, D.C.-area interoperable wireless communications system for federal law enforcement authorities.
GD Broadband consists of about 150 engineers and developers plus management. The business uses contract manufacturers to produce its components.