Harris optimizes its point-to-multipoint offerings with ICS Telecom software from ATDI

Harris Corporation, a provider of turnkey solutions for microwave and millimeter wave networks, has selected ICS telecom software from ATDI to aid in the development of a new generation of point-to-multipoint broadband wireless networks.

Founded in 1895, Harris is a U.S. corporation with offices in 90 countries. It specializes in the supply of complete communication solutions, from design to maintenance, for microwave and millimeter wave network operators. The company's Microwave Communications Division is currently developing and deploying wideband and broadband point-to-multipoint wireless links operating in frequency bands between 3.5 and 40 GHz. The company plans to offer medium and large size businesses high capacity private networks for carrying voice, data and video using TDM, IP or ATM-based packet switching technologies. Harris already has a number of beta test sites operating with telecom service providers in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

As part of the process for implementing its solutions, Harris has completed the in-house development of a number of different tools for integrating point-to-multipoint links. The company evaluated various tools available in the U. S. to aid in the simulation and design of these networks. "A number of vendors, especially in the United States, offer such products," explains Claudio Lucente, network engineering director for Harris Corporation. "But in-house studies on six applications available in the market showed that these products were most often mere upgrades of applications originally developed for modeling cell technology for mobile networks. The performance levels and features of these applications reflected this and were inadequate."

A detailed in-house study
Today, the evolution from point-to-point to point-to-multipoint networks is impacting more and more operators. A smooth transition requires a well-adapted migration tool, one designed specifically for this purpose. In July 1999 Harris became aware of ATDI's ICS Telecom product and contacted ATDI through their web site and began working with ATDI's personnel in Washington D.C. ATDI undertook a number of demonstrations to prove the capabilities of ICS Telecom and offered to lend the application to Harris' Microwave Communications Division. This was followed by a period of functional, performance level and ease of use testing, leading Harris to purchase an ICS Telecom license in March 2000. In the meantime, Harris called on ATDI a number of times to participate in calls for tenders by operators of MMDS fixed wireless networks. ATDI could thus produce simulations using ICS Telecom software, showing that the Harris solutions perfectly fulfilled the requirements expressed by potential customers.

"The detailed in-house study that we undertook to test ICS Telecom in every possible configuration led our team to reach consensus in favor of the ICS Telecom application based on cost, value, and ease of use" explains Claudio Lucente. "Admittedly, some of our people would have preferred to buy a U.S, product to be closer to technical support, but ATDI demonstrated that distance was not a problem. In the end, we had no difficulty getting our people to accept the idea of purchasing a European application that had shown itself to be superior to existing products on the North American market."

Since then, ATDI teams in the U.S. have been expanded to offer increased availability to Harris and a strong partnership has developed between the two companies. ATDI supports Harris' mission to offer complete, high performance solutions, adding significant value to Harris offerings in a sector that has become more and more competitive. "ATDI makes all their in-house skills available to customers and this is what we really appreciate," added Lucente. "In addition, ATDI totally shares our vision, especially in terms of integrating their solutions into our own IT systems, so that we are able to supply our operator customers with very high quality solutions that rapidly become operational. This is something that our competitors cannot offer at present."

Harris in figures
An equipment and services provider since 1895, Harris Corporation has been present in the microwave communications market for over 45 years. Based in Florida and with facilities in 90 countries, Harris employs over 10,500 people, and has revenues of $1.7 billion. For more information on Harris Corporation, please visit the company's web site at www.harris.com.