Network monitoring

TIANDY Technologies, global supplier of versatile surveillance solutions catering to customers from enterprise to entry level, has announced the execution of a distribution agreement with SecureNet, one of the premier value-added IT Surveillance, cybersecurity and video conferencing distributors (VAD) in the United Arab Emirates. SecureNet will promote TIANDY's complete portfolio of surveillance solutions to its network of channel partners throughout the Middle East region. TIANDY-SecureNet collaborate on surveillance TIANDY innovative offerings directly address the surveillance market challenges surrounding Artificial Intelligence and Deeper Learning" "We are very excited about our new partnership with TIANDY Technologies and adding their portfolio of surveillance solutions to our line card, "said Avinash Wadhwa, VP Strategic Alliances & Business Development of SecureNet. “TIANDY innovative offerings directly address the surveillance market challenges surrounding Artificial Intelligence and Deeper Learning which are at the forefront with our customers. With the addition of the TIANDY family of surveillance products and our joint collaboration with eco-system partners, we can provide some of the most innovative solutions to the market today. TIANDY is an outstanding addition to our portfolio and it will help to provide our channel partners with leading-edge surveillance solutions making them more competitive." We are pleased to be announcing this partnership with SecureNet. SecureNet's experience and expertise in IT Security and IT Surveillance market in the Middle East makes them the perfect choice upon which to build a solid foundation for success, said John van den Elzen, General Manager EMEA for TIANDY Technologies. Van den Elzen continued, "Deploying our turn-key surveillance solutions with SecureNet's high professional services dramatically expands our ability to address the demands of commercial accounts. We look forward to a sustained and mutually beneficial relationship."

DW Complete Surveillance Solutions, global manufacturer of digital recorders, surveillance cameras and related management software, announces an exclusive distribution agreement with Harco HIS to represent the company in the Middle East and Northern Africa region (MENA). DW-Harco partnership DW consistently receives product inquiries from end user customers in these important markets. The agreement with Harco will assure the company professional representation and support for our complete surveillance solutions. The DW brand has steadily gained market share across North and South America and Mexico“Our agreement with Harco truly represents finding the right partner at the right time,” said Wade Thomas, Chief Operating Officer, DW. “The growing demand for DW products and complete solutions creates opportunities for us to seek out established and successful distributors around the world.” Over the past 10 years, the DW brand has steadily gained market share across North and South America and Mexico. This new agreement with Harco HIS signals DW’s expansion into the broader global market. Turnkey reliable surveillance system “At Harco, we take pride in being able to offer our customers a unique value proposition based on the latest and greatest technologies in the Electronic Physical Security arena,” said Roger Ghostine, Managing Director, MENA - Harco Group, HIS Division. “We are very excited with this partnership with DW, a single-source leading provider of complete surveillance solutions for both Complete IP megapixel and HD over Coax. The partnership, effective immediately, will present the MENA market with new opportunities based on a turnkey reliable surveillance system with significant value for the end-user.”

Opengear, a provider of solutions that deliver secure, resilient network access and automation to critical IT infrastructure, announced the general availability of the Opengear NetOps AutomationTM platform. Today’s release provides enterprises with a complete and centralised management solution for achieving vendor-neutral automation of NetOps workflows. The NetOps Automation platform is built on a network of distributed Opengear management devices that enable presence and proximity at each of an organisation’s network locations. Enterprises can automate critical workflows via the Lighthouse centralised management system, running containerised NetOps modules that provide specialised functionality for making business processes even easier to abstract, implement, and automate. A Secure Provisioning module and a LogZillaTM module for event management are now available, with additional modules under development. Automating configuration management The Secure Provisioning NetOps Module utilises Opengear’s new OM2200 Operations Manager “The NetOps Automation platform is driven by the desire of our enterprise customers to automate repetitive and error-prone activities both in the data centre and at remote locations,” said Gary Marks, CEO, Opengear. “It’s a natural progression from our existing presence in the network infrastructure, where they rely on us to provide always-on access with smart out-of-band management. This innovative new solution provides that same level of resilience and convenience beyond out-of-band, as these organisations embrace the NetOps philosophy to streamline their processes and reduce human intervention.” The Secure Provisioning NetOps Module utilises Opengear’s new OM2200 Operations Manager to completely automate the initial provisioning, configuration management, re-provisioning, and disaster recovery of remote infrastructure. The OM2200 is built into the initial rack shipped to a branch office or other remote site and, once powered on, will call home using its embedded cellular module (which is secured and protected from tampering by TPM safeguards). Centralised network management We’re excited to have LogZilla as our first NetOps Automation platform ecosystem partner"Lighthouse 5 then automatically pushes image, configuration, and script files to the OM2200, which in turn provisions other hardware devices at the location. This completes the secure, zero-touch provisioning of local network infrastructure from a single appliance – and with no IT intervention required. “The automated provisioning and centralised network management capabilities offered by the NetOps Automation platform serve an increasingly critical need, as enterprises scale and expand their infrastructure to meet ever-increasing demands on network capacity,” said Marcio Saito, CTO, Opengear. “We’re excited to have LogZilla as our first NetOps Automation platform ecosystem partner, with its powerful event data management and analytics module proving the platform’s incredible potential. We look forward to future opportunities to add modules alongside further partners as well.” Real-time network intelligence and analytics The LogZilla NetOps Module – a second module releasing today for use with Opengear’s NetOps Automation platform – was produced through a new partnership between Opengear and LogZilla. The module offers integration with LogZilla’s flagship event management solution to deliver real-time network intelligence and analytics, always-on monitoring, and forensics (even during network outages). Coupled with Opengear’s local appliances, this module improves enterprises’ network resiliency and reduces the mean-time-to-repair and total cost of ownership across network equipment. The LogZilla event preduplicationTM and forwarding engine can run locally at remote sitesLogZilla’s solution allows organisations to consolidate multiple servers traditionally required to maintain effective management system logs, and instead run them solely through Opengear’s NetOps Automation platform. Additionally, the LogZilla event preduplicationTM and forwarding engine can run locally at remote sites when deployed onto OM2000 appliances. Reducing cost of ownership “This partnership between Opengear and LogZilla delivers a Network Operations module perfectly aligned to the current needs of enterprise customers and industries we serve,” said Clayton Dukes, CEO, LogZilla. “We remain committed to reducing the total cost of ownership of network equipment by fostering a natural synergy with what Opengear’s accomplished through its NetOps Automation system. We’re excited by the possibilities of this offering, and see this as the first of many collaborations with Opengear.” The Opengear NetOps Automation platform includes the OM2200 appliance, along with a subscription-based license for Lighthouse 5 and individual NetOps modules, and is available through Opengear’s reseller partners

The easy-to-manage SMARTair system is now available to professional security installers from ASSA ABLOY Access Control, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, the global provider of door opening solutions. SMARTair is an effective, fully-scalable access control system that can be installed quickly and easily by security installers. Available in offline and wireless online versions, SMARTair is a flexible, end-to-end, battery-operated system. This makes it the perfect solution for a variety of installations. Key management & control issues SMARTair uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader technology to provide a secure access solution to areas with diverse ranges and frequencies of foot traffic. The RFID reader and locking mechanism are all housed in one device, meaning SMARTair is suitable for nearly all types of interior and exterior doors, as well as turnstiles, barriers, elevators and more. SMARTair devices eliminate key management and control issues in favour of a card-based access solution As an energy-efficient technology, SMARTair devices need minimal maintenance, with battery changes only required after approximately 70,000 cycles. It also eliminates key management and control issues in favour of a card-based access solution, in which cards can be issued, invalidated and updated in real time for maximum security. Smart door access solution SMARTair is well-suited to the education sector, as it gives relevant stakeholders the ability to lock, unlock and grant door access permissions at allotted times and dates. The level of control is further strengthened with the audit trail function, which allows SMARTair to provide detailed attendance records for security and administrative purposes. These features showcase SMARTair as a secure and flexible access control system that balances student safety with the adaptability an educational environment requires. The ability to audit trail makes SMARTair an invaluable security solution for care home owners and operators The ability to audit trail also makes SMARTair an invaluable security solution for care home owners and operators. Because it can provide access control information 24/7 in real-time and audit trails can be provided to see who is accessing sensitive or restricted areas, SMARTair can give stakeholders peace of mind and allow them to better fulfil their duty of care, as well as their health and safety obligations. Tried & tested access control solution Alan Kent, Access Control Manager and SMARTair specialist said: “SMARTair is an access control solution that has been tried and tested over many years, and we are very excited to make this versatile system available through ASSA ABLOY Access Control. Its adaptability makes it ideal for a number of sectors, including education and healthcare.” “Security Installers can take advantage of the adaptability offered by SMARTair, as well as UK-based technical training and support, marketing and expert back up from the ASSA ABLOY Access Control team.”

ABP Technology, global specialty distributor for IP technology solutions, is now distributing end-to-end environmental monitoring and access control solutions from Kentix, the manufacturer of innovative smart building security products. Kentix Access Control solutions Kentix products available from ABP Tech include the Kentix MultiSensor and Kentix Access Control solutions Kentix products available from ABP Tech include the Kentix MultiSensor and Kentix Access Control solutions. ABP Tech serves as the Master Distributor of Kentix products across the Americas. “Half of all IT outages have a physical cause like fire or water damage and environmental damage downtimes are much longer – and more expensive – to fix”, said ABP Tech CEO & President, Robert Messer. “Just like a firewall protects data, the Kentix MultiSensor protects a network’s physical infrastructure in a compact, and very powerful, device,” he said. Kentix MultiSensor monitoring solution The Kentix MultiSensor is an end-to-end environmental monitoring solution that protects critical assets, valuable storage areas, technical systems, and IT and communication equipment by detecting 37 types of physical threats that can lead to catastrophic events. It can replace multiple individual solutions like temperature and humidity control, alarm, intrusion or presence detection, smoke, gases and/or early fire detection – saving about two-thirds of the typical cost – while channeling these alarms in a more targeted way. The Kentix MultiSensor is completely IP-based and is scalable up to 500 units. Impressively, the Kentix MultiSensor, an all-in-one environmental monitoring solution has received renowned ISO27001 certification. ISO27001 is the European gold standard in protection requirements for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). “Moving toward stringent standards like ISO27001 – even though they aren’t yet a requirement in the United States – can help security providers enact the end-to-end protection that is so critical to comprehensive security operations,” said Messer. Kentix DoorLock Kentix Access Control solutions including the Kentix DoorLock are as equally as impressive as the MultiSensor" “Kentix Access Control solutions including the Kentix DoorLock are as equally as impressive as the MultiSensor,” said Messer. “Kentix offers less expensive access control than competing systems, requires less equipment and takes less installation time – with no software fees and no servers,” he said. PoE and dual-door controller Kentix Access Control includes PoE to the dual-door controller smart edge-device and door card-reader/keypad units running an embedded, license-free, zero-cost software solution with Active Directory that can scale up to hundreds of locks. The minimalistic design of Kentix’s Access Control solution makes installation fast and simple and serves an aesthetic purpose; it’s a slick, small cube that is made to operate efficiently. It’s also designed to secure the physical IP network since the PoE connection stays inside and does not go to the door reader. This eliminates the threat of vandals or attempts to infiltrate a network via tapping into an RJ45. Software and system integration Kentix’s MultiSensor and Access Control products can be used separately or together since the Kentix Access Control system interfaces directly into the Kentix MultiSensor environmental monitoring system. All doors controlled by Kentix can also be linked to nearby Mobotix or Axis IP video surveillance cameras and programmed to record video of all access control events for easy auditing and referencing. “We’re excited to be able to bring environmental monitoring and access control products and support to system integrators and dealers seeking innovative and comprehensive security solutions from quality manufacturers like Kentix,” said Messer.

The Italian door entry manufacturer recently announced Traders Warehouse to be the chosen exclusive distributor of its fire range. As such, on stand E64, the partnership will demonstrate its all-encompassing service capability to present fire safety and security solutions that achieve standards without compromising on style. Comelit’s fire division offers a range of specialist solutions, including conventional and addressable panels that have already proven successful across Europe in complementing its renowned security portfolio. Complex multi-network systems Traders Warehouse is one of our Gold Partners, and coming to ElexShow 2018 together demonstrates our unique ability to present simple ways Says Francesca Boeris, Managing Director Comelit Group UK: “Comelit is a global brand known for bringing together high specification solutions with future-proof smart technology. Traders Warehouse is one of our Gold Partners, and coming to ElexShow 2018 together demonstrates our unique ability to present simple ways for contractors to meet the fire and security requirements of today’s discerning home and business owner.” “We are looking forward to introducing our new FIA accredited fire division, which offers a full range of addressable and conventional systems covering the spectrum of fire detection, from smaller facilities and buildings with simple layouts to large complex multi-network systems. And we have a range of services designed specifically to enable us to work in partnership to ensure manufacture, design and install is a smooth operation.” Easy upgrade opportunity At ElexShow, visitors will be able to see live demonstrations of the newly launched Mini Handsfree monitor with integrated Wifi. Since launch it has proven a really popular solution, offering installers an easy upgrade opportunity to its exclusive 2-wire SimpleBus system and complementing Quadra and iKall metal external door entry solutions. Comelit’s Visto video doorbell will be on display, with its ability to connect via a home WiFi network to allow homeowners to see, hear and speak with visitors Comelit’s architect-designed Visto video doorbell will be on display, with its ability to connect via a home WiFi network to allow homeowners to see, hear and speak with visitors at any time, or from any location via a smart phone or tablet. Provide complete solution Francesca concluded: “ElexShow 2018 is a really exciting debut opportunity for us to come together with new and existing customers and demonstrate our evolution from being leaders in door entry technology to embracing fire detection services.” “Our attendance with Traders Warehouse is to provide a complete solution, to ensure products and services can be integrated to create a connected future.”

With a heritage stretching back over 500 years, Gebrüder Weiss is one of Europe’s oldest transport and logistics companies. Based in Vorarlberg, Austria and with more than 7,000 employees in 150 locations around the world, it is also one of the largest. Sony video security in logistics centers Customers of all sizes trust Gebrüder Weiss to ship their consignments quickly, safely and undamaged to their destination Customers of all sizes trust Gebrüder Weiss to ship their consignments quickly, safely and undamaged to their destination. To guarantee this and make the entire logistics chain traceable, the service provider relies on comprehensive video surveillance in its logistics centers, which is regularly updated to reflect the latest state of the art. Gebrüder Weiss has now expanded its existing monitoring solution at the company’s largest distribution centre in Maria Lanzendorf near Vienna that previously featured almost 500 Sony cameras and Milestone's video management software (VMS). This has been supplemented with the addition of 33 Sony SNC-VM772R 4K video security cameras. Sony 4K cameras The upgrade ensures greater security, comprehensive package tracking and the ability to track any damage. The new Sony 4K cameras are used mainly to monitor reloading from larger trailers into smaller trucks. Their field of view covers the actual transfer area as well as the interior of the trailers and conveyor belts. The SNC-VM772R features a large CMOS sensor with 4K resolution that combines excellent image quality and large depth of field, even in difficult lighting conditions. The camera’s robust design with integrated image stabilization ensures smooth, clear video images despite vibration, dust and exhaust fumes from passing trucks. Video monitoring The new 4K cameras can track several objects simultaneously with either VGA or Full HD resolution The cameras’ installation ensures that the entire transshipment area is monitored at all times, with no blind spots caused by vehicles or pallets. In addition, the new 4K cameras can track several objects simultaneously with either VGA or Full HD resolution. The SNC-VM772R's 20-megapixel image sensor also enables capture of high-resolution Evidence Shots – still images with greater than 4K resolution that allow even the smallest details to be viewed clearly. For Gebrüder Weiss, the Sony solution is thus an outstanding alternative to multiple PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) cameras or multi-sensor systems. Installation and integration into the existing environment were carried out by local Sony partner ÖWD Österreichischer Wachdienst Security & Services. With 2,800 employees, ÖWD is one of the largest security companies in Austria and maintains 24/7 technical teams in all Austrian states. "Since it opened in 2006 we have been using Sony cameras at our terminal in Maria Lanzendorf, which is our largest in the world" says Werner Drnec, Operations Manager at Gebrüder Weiss, Maria Lanzendorf. "Both the image quality and reliability – with failure rates close to zero – have always exceeded our expectations, and even in the current project they proved themselves in a direct comparison. Our confidence in the Sony brand plus easy, seamless integration into our existing environment added to this."

Three years after its original decision to single source video monitoring solutions from Hanwha Techwin, (previously known as Samsung Techwin) the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is now investing in the latest Wisenet camera and recording technology to help create a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors within its mental health units. Over 380 Wisenet X H.265 network cameras have recently been installed at 9 mental health units located throughout the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust estate. These are in addition to the large numbers of earlier generation Wisenet cameras which were installed at 19 other units during previous phases of the project. “We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the price of the Wisenet X cameras is lower than the older models which they supersede and yet they deliver superior performance and enhanced feature sets,” said Mark Milliard, Capital Projects Manager at the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. “It was an easy decision therefore to deploy various Wisenet X models throughout the 9 mental health units.” Safeguarding staff, patients and visitors We are committed to the Safewards’ initiative, whose key aim is to reduce the rates of conflict within in-patient mental health settings" The safety of its staff, patients and visitors is fundamentally important to the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and it needs to be able to constantly and unobtrusively monitor patient activity. The Trust, which currently provides care for over 40,000 people with mental health problems, offers a range of specialist services that are dedicated to the care and recovery of anyone experiencing mental ill health or substance misuse issues across Norfolk and Suffolk. Although some of the mental health units are secure, the majority allow the free movement of patients. “We are committed to the Safewards’ initiative, whose key aim is to reduce the rates of conflict within in-patient mental health settings,” said Mark Milliard, “We believe that the use of smart technology, such as IP network-based video monitoring systems, can play a large role in helping us achieve this objective.” Upgrading to IP network-based systems Mark, who has worked within NHS Estates since 1986, has over recent years overseen the migration of the Trust’s analogue CCTV systems to IP network-based solutions. “The analogue systems which were installed a number of years ago became increasingly unreliable and we made the decision to upgrade them with IP network-based systems,” explained Mark. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the images which could be captured by the Wisenet cameras" “A key advantage of being able to transmit images over the network is that it provides the flexibility for any authorised user to view live or recorded video captured by any of the cameras from their PCs. We realised that this would provide us with much more flexibility in terms of how we monitor activity at the mental health units, compared to the analogue CCTV systems which could only transmit captured images to a central location.” Monitoring high-definition images “It made sense to source the cameras from just one manufacturer and from an ongoing maintenance point of view, to deploy the minimum possible number of different camera models,” said Mark. “I decided to carry out my own research as to which manufacturer had a product portfolio which could best cover all our requirements, as well as offering us the value we were looking for. “Part of the value formulae had to include a rock-solid reputation for reliability, as well as cameras with advanced technical features which would allow us to capture and monitor high definition images, regardless of the location or environmental conditions.” Mark’s extensive evaluation of a large number of manufacturers resulted in a shortlist of two, from which Hanwha Techwin emerged as the winner. “Both companies were able to show evidence as to the reliability of their cameras,” said Mark. “However, I was particularly impressed with the quality of the images which could be captured by the Wisenet cameras and the fact that each camera, depending on its location, could be configured to multi-stream images at different frame rates and at different resolutions. This offers a significant benefit from a network bandwidth management point of view.” Wisenet cameras with 150dB WDR technology Among the Wisenet X cameras recently installed are a number of XNP-6370R two megapixel 37x network IR PTZ domes which allow operators to zoom into observe close up detail of any activity The majority of the cameras installed at the 9 mental health units are Wisenet XNV-6080R two megapixel vandal-resistant network domes which have built-in IR illumination and utilise H.265 compression to minimise bandwidth and video storage requirements. Equipped with the world’s best 150dB Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) technology and the world’s best motorised varifocal F0.94 low light lens, Wisenet X cameras such as the XNV-6080R, are supercharged by the most powerful DSP chipset ever incorporated into a full camera range. Together, these features ensure superb quality colour images are captured, regardless of the environment or the time of day. The processing power of the Wisenet X chipset also provides the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust with the option to run multiple on-board third-party analytics applications. PTZ domes, fishnet and panoramic cameras Also, among the Wisenet X cameras recently installed are a number of XNP-6370R two megapixel 37x network IR PTZ domes which allow operators to zoom into observe close up detail of any activity. In addition, a number of Wisenet XNF-8010R 4 megapixel 360° fisheye and Wisenet PNM-9020V 7.3 megapixel 180° panoramic cameras have been installed, in order to efficiently reduce the number of cameras which would normally be needed to monitor wide open areas within the mental health units. With 4HDDs, the XRN-1610S offers a potential on-board storage capacity of up to 24TB, with additional storage possible via e-SATA Images from all the recently installed cameras are being recorded onto Wisenet XRN-1610S Network Video Recorders (NVRs). With 4HDDs, the XRN-1610S offers a potential on-board storage capacity of up to 24TB, with additional storage possible via e-SATA. It also supports WiseStream, a complementary compression technology which dynamically controls encoding, balancing quality and compression according to movement in the image. Bandwidth efficiency is improved by up to 75% compared to current H.264 technology when WiseStream is combined with H.265 compression. Relaxed and secure working environment “There is nothing wrong with the earlier generation of Wisenet cameras which we currently continue to use at most of the mental health units, but there is no doubt that the Wisenet X models are making it even easier for us to maintain a relaxed and secure working environment for our colleagues whilst keeping our patients safe,” added Mark Milliard. “Over the coming months we will continue our programme of updating the systems at other mental health units and in this respect, we have decided to continue to single source the cameras and recording devices from Hanwha Techwin.”

An initial investment of $100 million launched the first American public university campus in Mexico: Arkansas State University Campus Queretaro (ASUCQ). Within five years of its 2017 opening, around 7,500 staff and students are expected to use the site, including campus accommodation for up to 1,500 students. To accompany such a high-profile development, the university needed security and access control systems with a trusted and proven track record protecting staff, students and other university assets. They sought a technology-based solution to reduce security risks across the campus, and specifically an access control system able to monitor multiple spaces and monitor all access points in real time. System software and hardware should make it fast and intuitive to generate or modify access rights for any campus user. A single solution needed to work across both common university facilities and separate areas with student accommodation. Monitoring campus in real time With the SMARTair Wireless Online option, facilities managers monitor the campus in real time, with live updating of who enters where, and when ASUCQ turned to SMARTair to protect its investment and site users. So far, around 600 SMARTair battery-powered online escutcheons have been installed across campus. High traffic flows through many campus doors required robust access control devices. With the SMARTair Wireless Online option, facilities managers monitor the campus in real time, with live updating of who enters where, and when. Intuitive SMARTair software enables all day-to-day administration from a central control point. "SMARTair is a very secure access control system that is also very intuitive for user and access management,” says Jose Alfonso Suarez Torres, Operations Chief at ASUCQ. Future plans for ASUCQ envision a ‘university city’ with up to 20,000 students — all protected in real time with SMARTair access control. And because a SMARTair system is wireless, expanding and upgrading access control will never disrupt the daily work or campus life at this fast-growing university. SMARTair mobile solution Openow A single interaction with the SMARTair TS1000 software is all it takes to make a virtual key disappear automatically from a user’s Openow app The new SMARTair mobile solution, Openow also gives facility managers the option to send, revoke and amend the validity of users’ keys, wherever they (or the keyholder) may be — with no need for physical credentials like keys or smart-cards. Students and staff save time, with no access cards to collect or validate. Each user installs and validates their Openow app and collects keys virtually. Tap a SMARTair escutcheon with your phone... and the door unlocks, if you are authorised to enter. Administrators save time and resource at the end of a student or staff member’s time on campus. A single interaction with the SMARTair TS1000 software is all it takes to make a virtual key disappear automatically from a user’s Openow app. A simple, secure, modern solution to university access control.

On September 2, torrential rain caused mountain flood and massive landslide swept Mengdong Town of Yunnan province in southwestern China. Local transportation, electricity and communications network were disrupted.At 9:00PM, in order to reinforce local rescue forces, Yunnan Provincial Fire Brigade dispatched 24 vehicles and 130 firefighters, who later experienced serious challenges in communications in areas where intermittent voice call and short messages in cellular service was available only on heights. Hytera swung into action immediately after being notified about the firefighting department’s emergency communications requirements. Hytera iMesh broadband network solution A Hytera technical team brought the latest emergency communications equipment with them and joined the firefighters onsite. The team quickly set up an ad hoc wireless network with Hytera iMesh broadband networking solution. This broadband network has been facilitating real-time audio and video communications and coordination between the onsite forces and the Provincial Fire Brigade command center. Multiple casualties have been reported and more people are missing. The relief effort is ongoing.

Hoverfly Technologies Inc., global supplier of tether-powered aerial drone systems, is pleased to announce it has engaged retired Deputy Chief of Los Angeles Police Department Mike Hillmann to consult and provide expertise to Hoverfly and public safety officials of cities, counties and special law enforcement agencies who are considering the use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) to assist in keeping their cities safe. Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) When incidents and/or events happen, having ‘real-time, situational awareness’ from above the scene is critical to managing risk and upholding public safety “With 24-hour news cycles, a never-ending stream of social media posts, mid-term elections and potential threats to the public at large, getting fast, accurate situational awareness from the air during an incident has never been more important when it comes to keeping the public safe. We are thrilled to have Chief Hillmann advising on use cases and how best to implement and integrate this new technology,” says Hoverfly SVP of Systems, Lew Pincus.  When incidents and/or events happen, having ‘real-time, situational awareness’ from above the scene is critical to managing risk and upholding public safety and the safety of those who serve our communities. Aerial/Drone surveillance He adds, “We typically have relied on manned aircraft to provide aerial coverage over a variety of incidents. On occasion, those assets have not always been available, deemed too disruptive or too expensive to deploy in certain situations where an aerial view clearly could have helped an incident commander better understand the situation. Deploying small tether-powered, highly portable, unobtrusive persistent cameras positioned high above the scene can now be used as either a standalone capability or integrated system with existing networks, security infrastructure and even manned aircraft.” Hoverfly tether-powered sUAV (Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) systems solve short battery-life problems associated with free-flying drones Today, Mr. Hillmann is helping chiefs of police, local city and county officials and other public safety personnel understand how Hoverfly’s tether-powered LiveSky systems can be deployed from police or EMS vehicles providing incident commanders with actionable intelligence from high above the scene within minutes of arrival. “Tactically, having the ability to stay in the air monitoring the situation from above for hours, days, even weeks at a time represents an amazing capability we never had before. During my career, I can think of hundreds of situations where having a drone in the air to provide real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance would have helped keep my officers and the community much safer. It’s a force multiplier that should be exploited by public safety,” says Hillmann. Hoverfly’s LiveSky systems Hoverfly tether-powered sUAV (Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) systems solve short battery-life problems associated with free-flying drones because they operate using a standard 120VAC power source or vehicle inverter. The power, command and control information and video are transmitted over the tether making the entire system completely secure from jamming, hacking or spoofing, ensuring the privacy of the data and improving safety. Perhaps the biggest benefit of Hoverfly systems is they are autonomous and require no piloting skills. The CEO of Hoverfly likes to say, “if you can operate an elevator, you can operate our LiveSky system.” 

Siklu, the provider of mmWave wireless solutions, provides a backbone network of gigabit radios to approximately 1000 homes and business subscribers of Gigamex, a mexiquense ISP in the City of Toluca. The main challenge in connecting the network was ensuring enough capacity for the access networks. Saturation in the 5GHz frequency band in the city center did not allow them to work to the maximum capacity of their previous legacy wireless radios, which could provide only less than 200 Mbps. This prevented Gigamex from integrating new subscribers into their network and expanding their coverage areas in Toluca. Siklu provided design consultation and utilised its SmartHaul Link Budget Calculator to validate the required link capacity and predicted performance Fast delivery time Gigamex searched for an alternative wireless solution that was not affected by the plethora of 5GHz WiFi Aps by operating on a separate, cleaner spectrum. Siklu mmWave solutions, operating in the 70-80Ghz spectrum with over 17GHz of bandwidth available, were chosen after an in-depth market research and investigation of previous success stories worldwide, to provide the required capacity and fast delivery time and ensure local technical presence. Siklu provided design consultation and utilised its SmartHaul Link Budget Calculator to validate the required link capacity and predicted performance. Twelve (12) point to point radios were installed between the city center and the surrounding mountains within 7 service distribution nodes from their nearby internet POP. Significant savings The network was deployed throughout a total coverage area of 30 kilometers, delivering 99.99% availability with each radio boasting 2Gbps full-duplex capacity. The links were installed and aligned within 2 days and immediately began delivering reliable multigigabit performance. The reduced cost of acquisition and implementation of the links has resulted in significant savings for the company. Cost of a fibre deployment would have been at least 10 times higher than the cost of deploying Siklu’s mmWave links The alternate option to grow the network that had been considered was with fibre optics. The cost of a fibre deployment would have been at least 10 times higher than the cost of deploying Siklu’s mmWave links. Moreover, it allowed Gigamex to maintain the install base of customers and target a growth of at least 20% in new subscribers. Deliver beyond expectations “The current project is expected to grow and strengthen the Gigamex transport network without having to resort to a fully licensed spectrum” said Jesús Moran, COO at Gigamex. “We were not expecting a wireless vendor to perform as promised and were astounded that Siklu was able to deliver beyond our expectations with smooth operation and a robust network, supplying all the bandwidth we could hope for”. “Gigamex’s service is backhauled by Siklu’s carrier grade solutions, delivering blazing speeds to improve residents and business owners lives in Mexico” stated Eyal Assa, Siklu’s CEO. “Siklu’s success in Mexico including Grupo Pinsa and now Gigamex in the city of Toluca serve as examples of the best way to deliver gigabit performance economically in areas with limited fibre deployment.”