Brunswick County, NC Deploys SmartLink Interoperability Network; SmartLink Allows Coastal Region to Achieve Interoperability Affordably Across 63 Agencies.

WALLINGFORD, Conn. -- SmartLink Radio Networks Inc., a supplier of land mobile radio networking and interoperability solutions, today announced that Brunswick County, North Carolina has deployed and is operating the SmartLink I-Network(TM) platform. SmartLink's solution ties together dozens of Brunswick County public safety agencies. This real-time, always on, interoperable radio system platform was implemented more quickly and at a small fraction of the cost of alternative vendor solutions.

"We had a collection of disparate systems across the county where we lacked the ability to communicate effectively and that is just not acceptable for day to day operations or with the threats we face from major storms during hurricane season," stated Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald E. Hewett. "The SmartLink system allowed us to enhance our underlying network infrastructure and achieve interoperability across new and existing technologies effectively and economically."

SmartLink is compatible with various manufacturers' RF equipment irrespective of frequency or protocol. Therefore, Brunswick County is able to leverage existing UHF and VHF RF resources as well as integrate new radios, pagers, repeaters and control stations.

With its modular approach, the overall system can be extended to support other agencies in adjacent areas as well as be easily expanded to connect other users within the service area. The highly flexible "software defined" approach allows an almost limitless number of interoperability combinations of channels, sites, and radio access methods to be configured to help respond to any conceivable incident. This capability includes the ability to include non-traditional entities into interoperable scenarios if the need arises.

Multi-agency Interoperability During Both Emergencies and Every-day Interaction

SmartLink addressed Brunswick's need to create interoperability for the county's dozens of public safety agencies, which had been unable to communicate over their disparate radio systems when responding to emergencies. Situated in the Coastal Region of the Carolinas, Brunswick County must often contend with tropical storms and hurricanes. The county's public safety radio system includes 22 fire departments, 10 rescue squads, 12 police departments and the county sheriff's office. In addition, Brunswick's E-911 central communications (C-COMM) employs 24 full time telecommunicators who handle approximately 175,000 E-911 calls per year. Prior to deploying SmartLink, sixty-three agencies were using approximately 40 different conventional UHF and VHF radio and paging systems.

"SmartLink worked with us to establish an interoperable radio network that met our community's financial and time limitations," said Randy Thompson, Brunswick County Director of Emergency Services. "SmartLink's building block approach to interoperability gave us a system that could be implemented more affordably than alternatives, allowing us to add new technologies and where required leverage many of our existing RF resources."

The I-Network(TM) platform is set up so each agency can operate autonomously in routine situations, with the ability to invoke communications with others on an as needed basis. With dispatcher and/or field user control of the interoperability site and channel pre-configured cross-connects, users can instantly control the involvement of other entities or groups of users to meet the situation as hand. SmartLink's interoperability will ultimately extend outside of the region as well, where the county is planning to support pre-programmed interoperability with outside agencies such as FEMA, the State and adjacent county hospitals, EMS and public safety agencies.

"Brunswick County's success serves as a model for agencies who are seeking to follow the grass roots approach to interoperability recommended by the Department of Homeland Security's Safecom program," said Mark Hatten, president and CEO of SmartLink. "We believe that interoperability must be rooted in the needs and requirements of local government agencies. Following this model, the SmartLink deployment will enable Brunswick County to continue evolving toward compliance with a National Incident Management System (NIMS) objective."

About SmartLink Radio Networks Inc.

SmartLink has created an interoperable radio network for public safety/service and critical infrastructure. SmartLink's software-defined network breaks down the barriers created by different radio frequencies and protocols, seamlessly integrating with legacy equipment. The result is a cost-effective and flexible networked radio environment that delivers interoperability, while allowing customers to easily adapt and expand to future technologies. For more information, contact us at 866-249-3600 or visit www.smartlink.net.