Tata Elxsi Limited and US-based Full Spectrum announced a new tie-up wherein the companies will work towards expanding the market for Full Spectrum’s FullMax Broadband Wireless System for smart grid communications.

Full Spectrum has a product line under FullMAX Broadband Wireless System which is basically a ‘Private WiMAX solution’. Such a system is believed to be finding relevance for electric utilities, oil & gas companies, transportation entities and public safety agencies. Commercial field tests of these systems are already on in the USA.

“Mission critical entities have requirements that go significantly beyond consumer

wireless needs including heightened security, quality of service and support for legacy SCADA protocols,” said Stewart Kantor, CEO of Full Spectrum. “By partnering with Tata Elxsi, we will leverage Tata Elxsi’s team of more than 300 software development engineers to offer customized smart grid and other intelligent infrastructure communications solutions. As well, our work with Tata Elxsi will open new opportunities to Tata’s vast customer base worldwide.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Full Spectrum and offer our

customization services for utility and other mission critical markets”, said Nitin Pai, VP Marketing, for Tata Elxsi. ”Full Spectrum has made great inroads into the multi-billion dollar intelligent communications infrastructure market for the utility, transportation and public safety entities in North America. Tata Elxsi provided WiMAX software components and supported development of the FullMAX System. Tata Elxsi sees great potential to leverage the FullMAX System with new and existing Tata Elxsi communications customers.”

The solution makes use of 802.16e-2005 standard for Mobile WiMAX. Full Spectrum claims that the differentiation of the system is its ability to work in non-standard, licensed, low band VHF/UHF frequencies at high transmit power. The system is said to be able to cover 1,250 square miles from a single tower site by using low band licensed VHF frequencies at high transmit power.

Standard WiMAX systems are designed to operate in microwave frequencies at very low transmit power. Typical coverage for a standard Mobile WiMAX system is approximately 12 square miles from a tower site. The FullMAX System can provide mobile and fixed data coverage up to 1,250 square miles from a single tower site by using low band licensed VHF frequencies at high transmit power.