SOLiD DAS Equipment Solution Selected by Transit Wireless to Deliver Wireless Coverage Throughout New York City Subway System

SOLiD to enable cellular and other wireless services for passengers and transit employees at underground stations within the largest rapid transit rail system in the U.S.

ROSEBURG, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SOLiD has been selected by Transit Wireless to support a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) to provide wireless coverage and capacity throughout the New York City Subway System including underground stations, mezzanines and corridors. Once completed, the wireless network will enable the use of cellular phones, tablets, pagers or two-way radios anywhere within the system for passengers and transit employees as well as emergency and public safety personnel who also rely upon commercial wireless devices in addition to public-safety radios. The multi-year project includes 277 stations, 30 of which are scheduled to go live by the end of 2012.

“Transit Wireless is building one of the most expansive Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks in the world”

The New York City Subway is the largest rapid transit rail system in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. It is also one of the oldest. Combined, the scale and harsh, subterranean environment make the project uniquely challenging.

Proven in other high-traffic subway systems including the Seoul Metro, SOLiD wireless solutions are optimized for reliability and scalability as well as ease of deployment and cost efficiency. The DAS network is engineered to address both current and near-term future wireless requirements and technologies. Plus, SOLiD’s research and development process is optimized for quick-turn productization to address any unique project needs. Lastly, the small footprint, rugged components and modular design enables simplified installation and maintenance.

“Transit Wireless is building one of the most expansive Distributed Antenna System (DAS) networks in the world,” said Transit Wireless CEO, William A. Bayne, Jr. “SOLiD’s extensive subway experience in Korea and ability to rapidly customize products and applications make the company ideally-suited to support our mission to enable state-of-the-art wireless coverage to all underground subway stations in New York City.”

The wireless network will incorporate SOLiD’s ALLIANCE “neutral-host” DAS which supports multiple wireless operators and wireless services using a single infrastructure. Sophisticated system management and monitoring software will ensure optimized and reliable connectivity for wireless users.

“We are grateful to be awarded the responsibility to enable wireless communication services for commuters, visitors, transit employees and public safety officers throughout a transit system as iconic as the New York City Subway,” said Seth Buechley, President of SOLiD. “We look forward to leveraging SOLiD’s innovative DAS and Optical Network portfolio to meet both current and future wireless needs of Transit Wireless and the New York City Transit Authority.”

The initial 30 DAS rollout includes major stations such as Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Columbus Circle. Work is presently commencing.

About SOLiD

SOLiD is the U.S. operating arm of SOLiD, Inc., a publicly-traded global telecom manufacturer established in 1998 and headquartered in Korea. SOLiD enables reliable coverage and capacity for wireless and wireline telecommunications providers with innovative, patented and robust fiber technology solutions. SOLiD's distributed antenna system (DAS) solutions ensure dependable coverage within buildings, campuses and venues with support for commercial wireless, public safety radio, private 2-way radio, and paging using just one strand of fiber. SOLiD’s fiber multiplexing solutions, based on patented INFINITY™ tunable laser technology, increase existing fiber capacity more than 16x and reduce CAPEX and OPEX. With innovation as part of its DNA, SOLiD is applying its technology to solve not only today's challenges but leading the development of next-generation solutions. SOLiD’s global customer reach includes major wireless operators, Tier-1 and facilities-based carriers as well as leading hospitals, world-class hotels and resorts, Fortune 500 corporate campuses, international airports, professional sports venues, metropolitan subways and other marquee customer sites. SOLiD is available on the GSA Schedule.

About Transit Wireless

Transit Wireless was formed specifically to respond to the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s requirement to provide a shared wireless infrastructure to enable commercial wireless services for the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) riders within 277 underground subway stations, and related opportunities. Transit Wireless owns and operates the subway station wireless communications network and acts as a neutral host for extending a variety of wireless carrier services to New York City subway riders. Major wireless carriers have already signed on to be partners on the Transit Wireless Network. In addition there is interest for several applications from public/private wireless providers. Broadcast Australia, a leader in underground wireless networks, acquired a controlling interest in Transit Wireless in 2010.

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