News & Press Releases
Press Release, September 2003
Carlson Wireless Installs New Multipoint Digital Radio - CWT RuralConnect
Redway, CA - Carlson Wireless Technologies Inc. (CWT) announces successful RuralConnect™ trials in northern California and eastern Colorado that resulted in orders and installations. Following trials in northern California and Colorado, both regional telephone companies have placed orders and begun installations of Carlson's new RuralConnect™ Multipoint phone systems.
RuralConnect™ is a multi-functional digital radio, using a T1 or E1 interface connection at the base or hub site that provides up to 128 field subscribers with voice, fax or dial-up modem internet connections over paths up to 30 miles. Jim Carlson, CWT President and Chief Technologist, announced that these installations validate CWT product specifications and market segment. Rural telephone companies now have a solution for remote applications with geographic or environmental conditions that make conventional engineering impractical or impossible.
RuralConnect™ utilizes CDMA technology that provides secure and crystal-clear voice and data communication. RuralConnect™ operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band and has options available for 5.8 GHz. The system also uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that allows for easy configuration by users as well as link diagnostics for remote configuration and control. The system can extend up to 14 miles with its standard internal antenna and up to 30 miles with an optional external antenna.
RuralConnect™ represents the newest patented technology within the CWT product line. "These installations clearly demonstrate that a cost-effective wireless multipoint telephone system is possible" said Carlson. "Rural telephone providers and developing nations worldwide will greatly benefit from the ability to provide communications, security, economic opportunities and educational benefits to their most rural and remote towns and villages."
The established CWT product line, including the Phone Line Extender™ and the multi-functional FT 512, gives users full bandwidth, carrier-grade voice and data over paths up to 30 miles. "We are the price-performance leader in the point-to-point and now point-to-multipoint wireless market segment," Carlson stated.
About Carlson Wireless
Founded in 1999 by CEO and Chief Technologist Jim Carlson, Carlson Wireless Technologies is headquartered in Redway, California. Carlson's design team has focused on design of telephone and data services to the most remote and isolated rural areas of the globe. In 1990 Carlson founded Carlson Communications Inc., marketing the Optaphone product line. For nearly ten years Carlson Communications provided analog subscriber access lines to the rural markets. Zhone Technologies acquired the company in 1999.
CWT is methodically pursuing the underserved telecom markets, selling systems to China, Indonesia, India, Africa, South America and Mexico, as well as to resellers, distributors and telephone operators throughout the United States. CWT has also found very valuable and consistent customers such as the United Nations, various agencies of the U.S. government, public utilities and railway companies which deploy CWT products in telecommunications and security applications.