ATCi integrates Cocesna's frame relay network.

Antenna Technology Communications Inc., a provider of satellite communications solutions, has announced that the company has installed and integrated a two-way communication system for Cocesna using Frame Relay to access the company's existing Aeronautical Communication Network, which currently serves airports throughout Central America.

ATCi, employing the latest satellite communications technology from Comtech EF Data and its wholly owned subsidiary Memotec, designed and integrated the complete Frame Relay system for the new satellite communication site at Bluefields, Nicaragua. The site is currently connected with six voice channels/three data channels to Managua-Nicaragua, one voice channel to Puerto Cabezas-Nicaragua and one voice channel/three data channels to Cocesna's hub in Tegucigalpa-Honduras. With its newly installed Frame Relay network in place, Cocesna is able to provide an enhanced offering of Aeronautical and Administration Network Services.

Cocesna was required to upgrade its current network to meet the partial lifting of telecommunication regulations in Nicaragua designed at opening access to frequencies for mobile telephone, paging and satellite communications.

Cocesna (Corporacion Centroamericana de servicios de Navegacion Aerea) is an international company headquartered in Honduras responsible for managing and maintaining a communication network of regional airports throughout Central America.

As a public service within the region, Cocesna's voice and data communication network provides information that is crucial to managing aircraft and airport traffic control operations. Currently, Cocesna connects airports in Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

"ATCi is committed to supporting its customers in Latin America. We feel that this project further demonstrates our ability to provide customized, turnkey system solutions to an even wider group of organizations in this important region," said Gary Hatch CEO, ATCi. "We are proud to have been selected by Cocesna as the full system integrators for this important, market-expanding project. It confirms ATCi's ability not only to provide complete video satellite communication integration solutions, but also voice and data, as well."

In addition to the complete installation of the two-way communication system at Bluefields, ATCi also handled all equipment testing and on-site training of personnel to ensure successful frame relay network operation. The network was installed and operating successfully as of May 2004.