CDM 625A modem. Photo: Comtech EF Data

[Via Satellite 06-03-2014] Comtech EF Data, a subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications based in Tempe, Ariz., was awarded $1 million in follow-on equipment orders from a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) in Africa during the recent quarter ending on April 30, 2014. The orders are for an upgrade on voice and data communications to help increase subscriber growth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The order specifically requested CDM 625 satellite modems and compatible CRS 170A 1:1 modem redundancy switches. The CDM 625 aims to minimize operating expenses (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX), while maximizing throughput and availability without requiring additional resources. The modem couples Forward Error Correction (FEC) with DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier bandwidth compression, which allows transmit and receive carriers of a duplex link to share transponder space.

Also ordered by the MNO were the AccessGate Radio Access Network (RAN) optimization systems by Comtech EF Data’s subsidiary, Memotec. These systems allow MNOs to optimize network utilization, ease rapid expansion and minimize network operating costs.