Motorola and C-DoT of India to develop fixed wireless phone system with direct digital interface

Business Wire, July 26, 1995

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 26, 1995-- Motorola's Cellular Infrastructure Group (CIG) and the Centre for the Development of Telematics (C-DoT) in India have announced they will develop a complete fixed wireless phone system featuring a Direct Digital Interface. This arrangement will provide telephone operators with an alternative, cost-effective solution for deploying a Wireless Local Loop (WiLL(R)) system.

Motorola and C-DoT are working together to produce a fixed wireless phone system that uses a Direct Digital Interface between Motorola's Trunked WiLL radio sub-system and the family of central office exchanges (RAX/MAX) developed by C-DoT. The development of a Direct Digital Interface between the cellular office switch and the WiLL radio system delivers a complete integrated solution and eliminates the need for an individual line per subscriber interface to the fixed wireless network. With less equipment to deploy, it offers operators a more cost-effective fixed wireless system.

This total fixed wireless system will be available by year end 1995 and initially marketed to the Indian market. The development and marketing of this open fixed wireless system featuring a Direct Digital Interface will be conducted on a non-exclusive basis.

``This arrangement with C-DoT is another important step in our goal of providing operators with a variety of cost-effective and efficient telephone solutions using our WiLL system,'' said Marty Singer, vice president and general manager of Motorola CIG's local loop operations. ``It is essential that we continue to work with operators to meet their specific telephony needs and that means extending our fixed wireless product line to accommodate different interfaces between the switch and radio system.''

Bishnu Pradhan, executive director of C-DoT, adds that ``the integration of Motorola's wireless access system with C-DoT's range of RAX and MAX switching equipment will not only offer enhanced radio capability on the nearly 3.5 million lines already installed in the India network, but also offer a quick and inexpensive alternative to the new service providers who will be entering the recently opened India telecommunications market.''

Direct Digital Interface is based upon the V5.2 standard digital interface with an extension to provide for cell site control of time slot allocation for cellular phone calls. The V5.2 standard digital interface was recently approved as a European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) standard and is expected to become an International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standard in the near future. The V5.2 open interface was defined and developed to allow the telephone network operator to select between a broad array of landline network equipment across multiple vendors.

The first wireless product of its kind, WiLL was introduced by Motorola in September, 1992. The first Motorola WiLL system connected to a C-DoT RAX Exchange was at the site of the major earthquake in 1993, Latur, in the state of Maharashtra. The system is a cost-effective alternative to wireline that can be easily integrated into the landline network and deployed within two to four weeks, much more rapidly than traditional landline installations. WiLL also offers increased flexibility in system implementation and design since deployment does not require exact locations for subscriber coverage.

C-DoT is an autonomous scientific society, established in 1984 and funded by the Indian Government to undertake research and development in telecommunications. It has pioneered the development of India's own series of digital switching systems which today contribute to over 1/3 of the existing Indian telecommunications network.

Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors, and advanced electronic systems and services. Motorola's 1994 sales were $22.2 billion.

CONTACT: Motorola, CIG

Mary Anne McAndrew, 708/632-2775

or

C-DoT

Dr. Bishnu Pradhan, 011 91 11 688 8034