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Stratos Completes Repair of its Gulf of Mexico Microwave Network and Re-launches StratosMAX Broadband Wireless Access Network
StratosMAX delivers reliable, affordable data and voice connectivity to GoM offshore operators
BETHESDA, MD (May 2, 2006) - Stratos Global Corp. (TSX: SGB) today announced it has rebuilt the portions of its Gulf of Mexico microwave network that were damaged by last year's hurricanes, enabling the re-launch of its StratosMAX broadband wireless access (BWA) network. The next-generation StratosMAX network maximizes the performance, flexibility and scalability of remote voice and data communications in the Gulf of Mexico, while minimizing the complexity of deployment for offshore rigs, production platforms, and other users.
Stratos is showcasing StratosMAX at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), May 1-4, 2006, at the Reliant Center in Houston, booth #5705.
The repair of its microwave network along the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts is part of Stratos' comprehensive program to offer its customers communications flexibility in the Gulf of Mexico. In the coming months, Stratos will continue to strengthen the microwave network to offer even better performance and resistance against future storms, with redesigned circuit protection, additional beach crossings, increased bandwidth, true ATM transport and additional redundancy. The cornerstone of Stratos' enhanced redundancy offering is its new Laurentides Teleport in Quebec, which will feature fully redundant power supply and terrestrial connectivity allowing the highest-possible level of disaster recovery and business continuity using Stratos' VSAT satellite services.
Several leading offshore energy companies operating in the Gulf of Mexico have already signed up for StratosMAX, which leverages the latest developments in emerging WiMAX broadband wireless technology, together with Stratos' unmatched network backbone infrastructure, to deliver reliable, always-on data and voice connectivity at a lower cost than traditional satellite and wireless solutions.
StratosMAX provides offshore drilling and production companies with a secure and reliable platform for delivering up to 2 Mbps of capacity to support a full range of IP-based data applications, as well as multiple voice lines for telephone connectivity. Because it is connected to Stratos' industry-leading terrestrial backbone network, StratosMAX customers have complete interconnectivity between their remote operations in the Gulf of Mexico and other locations throughout the world, regardless of the technology platform.
"The rebuilding of our microwave network has enabled us to increase the performance of our remote communications solutions for the offshore drilling and production industry in the Gulf of Mexico," said Jim Parm, Stratos' president and chief executive officer. "The increased performance of our microwave-based services - combined with our industry leading Stratos ITek VSAT and StratosNexus ATM backbone services - help establish Stratos as the pre-eminent communications provider for the offshore industry."
Parm added, "By combining the wireless capabilities of StratosMAX with the unmatched capacity of Stratos' backbone network, Stratos provides a truly latency-free voice and data communications service that is easily and affordably deployable to offshore platforms."
The StratosMAX broadband wireless network is powered by Alvarion's industry-leading BreezeAccess technology, which is the world's most deployed broadband wireless platform.
To date, Stratos has rolled out 30 of the approximately 40 backbone locations that will power the StratosMAX network, as well as designing several customized solutions for individual customers, based on the StratosMAX platform. The remaining backbone sites will be installed by July, providing an even greater coverage area.
About Stratos
Stratos Global Corporation (www.stratosglobal.com) is a publicly traded company (TSX: SGB) and the leading global provider of a wide range of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions for users operating beyond the reach of traditional networks. With its owned-and-operated infrastructure and extensive portfolio of industry-leading satellite and microwave technologies (including Inmarsat, Iridium, Globalstar, MSAT, VSAT, and others), Stratos serves the voice and high-speed data connectivity requirements of a diverse array of markets, including government, military, energy, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, media and recreational users throughout the world.
For additional information :
Carla Riggs
Director, Corporate Communications
+1 709 748 4857
carla.riggs@stratosglobal.com