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Challenge
In the aftermath of the recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, the FAA possessed a critical need to maintain continuity of its local operations. With ground transportation virtually impossible due to flooding from Katrina, keeping area air traffic flowing gained new importance. Local FAA facility access was limited as a result of the impassible roadways. Area damage to critical infrastructure components compromised traditional communications. These circumstances created a dispersed FAA workforce for whom wireline remote access options were not practical. With a second hurricane, Rita, promising additional, widespread damage, the urgency to equip FAA employees with a viable remote access option grew. Operating in this unpredictable environment, the solution had to be easy and quick to implement while promising to be scalable for future use.
Harris Corporation, the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) prime contractor, integrates Sprint products and services to provide the FAA with best-in-class solutions. By leveraging Sprint's CDMA 1xEVDO (Evolution Data Optimized) network and the Sprint PCS Connection Card™ by Sierra Wireless, Harris advances FAA remote access options beyond Dial IP and wireless hotspots to "almost anywhere" secure broadband.
Sprint launched the Sprint PCS Connection Card by Sierra Wireless in March 2005, introducing it to the FAA for trial. With FAA testing and approval, Harris added the connection card to the Mission Support contract as a remote access alternative for laptop computers. The FTI team's foresight prior to the hurricanes enabled immediate end user support during the disaster. At the command of the FAA and Harris, the Sprint account team confirmed wireless service availability, activated and delivered the solution to the affected FAA users, literally, overnight.
Immediately, the solution enabled FAA employees to transmit information wirelessly at high speeds. For the future, Sprint's Business Mobility Framework will prove its value as it meets expanding FAA requirements for mobile solutions.
The Harris Corporation is a technology powerhouse that works within both the commercial and government sectors to provide product, system and service solutions. The company's four divisions serve markets for microwave, broadcast, secure tactical radio and government communications systems.
With over 12,500 employees, including 5,000 engineers and scientists, Harris Corporation has called on Sprint to help provide the FAA with communications services such as traditional transport, Peerless IP, wireless, and traditional hardware.
For more information about the Harris Corporation visit: www.harris.com
The Sprint solution made an immediate, positive difference for the FAA. During the disaster, it provided laptop-enabled employees with a cost-effective solution for secure, broadband wireless communications. With Sprint PCS Connection Cards and EVDO broadband service, the solution provided a way to access network applications, maintain operational continuity, and communicate from virtually any location. By testing the connection cards, the FAA stood up a wireless solution to serve both current and future requirements. Lastly, the immediate coordinated response between Harris and Sprint confirmed that wireless services were available in affected areas so that they were able to meet together the urgent needs of the FAA.
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