M/A-COM to Implement $30 Million P25IP Simulcast Public Safety Radio System for York County, Pennsylvania

LOWELL, Mass., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- M/A-COM, a business unit of Tyco Electronics and a worldwide leader of critical radio communication systems, today announced that the York County, Pa., Board of Commissioners has authorized the York County Department of Emergency Services (YCDES) to begin contract negotiations with M/A-COM for a new P25 simulcast public safety radio communications system. The system's estimated value will range from $31 to $33.5 million. The system will include a 22-site UHF digital trunked public safety radio network, a 16-site digital paging network, mutual aid base stations, a radio dispatch console system, M/A-COM P25IP (Project 25 'to the power of IP') radio equipment and an alarm and control system.

By utilizing M/A-COM's P25 technology, York County will ensure that its public safety agencies will gain the most consistently reliable coverage across a wide area, with the capacity to ensure that large groups of first responders can dependably communicate during critical emergency situations. M/A-COM's P25 simulcast configuration is fully compliant with all the features and requirements of the Project 25 standard and uses GPS receivers at both the control and transmit site to maintain timing precision. The company's P25IP simulcast solution is an end-to-end IP network that uses packet switched infrastructure to connect each of the system's key components, including the transmit sites, control points, network switching centers and dispatch consoles.

"After a great deal of planning and evaluation, we are extremely pleased to enter into the next phase of deployment for our new public safety radio system," said Rob Sterner, 9-1-1 project director, York County, Pa. "M/A-COM has presented us with an advanced and powerful technology solution that meets our strict coverage and capacity requirements. We believe that M/A-COM's P25 simulcast system will meet the needs of our first responders and other emergency personnel and that this, in turn, will enhance the safety of both our community and our public safety officials today and into the future."

The YCDES will also enter into detailed design and contract negotiations with Alcatel North America of Owosso, Mich., for the construction of the digital microwave connectivity to support the M/A-COM system, as well as with JG Contracting of Pittsburgh, Pa., for site development services at the York County Emergency Services Center and Long Term Backup Facility. This relationship will ultimately be extended to include all site development services associated with the completion of the M/A-COM system.

"We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with York County and are eager to finalize the negotiation of the contract and begin the implementation process of this new state-of-the-art public safety radio system," said Mary Doherty, Northeast area director, M/A-COM, Inc. "The County performed a thorough, detailed assessment of the solutions available to them and concluded that M/A-COM's P25IP will ultimately provide the flexibility and scalability that will not only meet their immediate communication needs of today but will enable them to meet future challenges without requiring an expensive upgrade of their system."

In addition to the new deployment in York County, M/A-COM also provides the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with its statewide public safety radio system. The system is based on M/A-COM's OpenSky technology, which is the most advanced, highest capacity public safety grade technology in the United States today. It is designed for 95 percent mobile coverage over the State's 45,000 square miles and 67 counties. Currently the system supports 10,000 users and is designed for a capacity of up to 150,000 users.

ABOUT M/A-COM

M/A-COM, Inc., a business unit of Tyco Electronics, is a leading supplier of critical communications systems and equipment for public safety, utility, federal and select commercial markets. Products range from some of the most advanced IP-based voice and data networks, to traditional wireless systems that offer customers the highest levels of reliability, interoperability, scalability and security. M/A-COM is also a recognized leader in the design and manufacture of radio frequency (RF), microwave and millimeter wave solutions for the commercial wireless telecommunications, aerospace and defense industries. Headquartered in Lowell, Mass., M/A-COM has offices and manufacturing facilities worldwide. Information about M/A-COM can be found on the Web at http://www.macom.com/ or http://www.macom-wireless.com/.

ABOUT TYCO INTERNATIONAL

Tyco Electronics is a business segment of Tyco International Ltd. . Tyco International Ltd. is a global, diversified company that provides vital products and services to customers in four business segments: Fire & Security, Electronics, Healthcare, and Engineered Products & Services. With 2005 revenue of $40 billion, Tyco employs approximately 250,000 people worldwide. More information on Tyco can be found at http://www.tyco.com/.

- M/A-COM, Tyco and OpenSky are trademarks. - Other products, logos and Company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. For sales information, please contact: M/A-COM, Inc. 1011 Pawtucket Blvd. Lowell, MA 01853 Americas -- 1-800-366-2266 Europe/Middle East/Africa -- +44 1908-574-200 Asia/Pacific -- 81-44-844-8296