HOUSTON, March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Infrastructure
Networks, Inc. (INET), a leading provider of industrial LTE
wireless broadband services to oil and gas and other critical
infrastructure industries, is deploying a pilot LTE system in the
Gulf of Mexico.
INET's pilot deployment will be used to demonstrate the superior
capabilities of industrial LTE wireless broadband service and
coverage when coupled with 700 MHz spectrum that INET has leased
from Verizon Wireless under the LTE in Rural America program.
The pilot will be open to certain companies operating in the
Gulf of Mexico that have expressed
an interest in using the network for testing and planning larger
LTE rollouts.
Tarig Anani , CEO of
Infrastructure Networks, said, "The pilot deployment phase of
our LTE rollout will give customers an opportunity to test and
preplan their own LTE deployments in lockstep with Infrastructure
Networks. For the pilot, we have assembled a team of partners
that bring unique capabilities, resources and assets to the table."
He closed by saying, "We have seen great success with our onshore
business, and with the need for additional bandwidth, real-time
connectivity, and the reliability of our Industrial 4G LTE network,
oil and gas companies have been requesting that we expand our
coverage offshore. Our partnership approach to the Gulf of Mexico will allow us to leverage the
value and expertise of our partners to deliver unrivaled high-speed
bandwidth and low latency connectivity across a secure network.
"
Partners teaming with INET on the LTE pilot include
Alcatel-Lucent, BlackHawk Datacom and L&M Botruc
Rental.
Alcatel-Lucent will provide LTE network equipment and the
licensed microwave backhaul equipment for the LTE Pilot in the Gulf
of Mexico. John Dow, VP of
Business Development of Americas Wireless Business for
Alcatel-Lucent, said, "Deploying the first LTE solution in the
Gulf of Mexico will provide oil
and gas companies a similar experience to what they have
experienced onshore using INET's commercial LTE network.
Through this partnership, we will deliver the most advanced
wireless ultra-broadband services in the Gulf of Mexico, providing faster connectivity
and enabling advanced machine-to-machine communications that was
not previously available to the offshore oil and gas market."
Philip Liddell, COO of
Infrastructure Networks, said, "Infrastructure Networks has worked
hand in hand with Alcatel-Lucent since 2013, successfully deploying
over 25,000 square miles of industrial LTE coverage throughout
Texas for the oil and gas
industry. Going offshore with Alcatel-Lucent was an easy
decision based upon the experience both teams have in working
together deploying LTE services."
BlackHawk Datacom will provide offshore engineering and
construction services. In addition, they will be involved in
testing several LTE based end-user applications during the pilot
period. BlackHawk Datacom has a long communications history
in the Gulf of Mexico having
deployed several generations of microwave point to point systems
over the last 25 years. John
Poindexter, CEO of BlackHawk Datacom, said, "We are very
excited about the expanded opportunities that this technology
brings to the Gulf of Mexico. The
model that has proven to be so successful in the US shale plays has
the ability to bring significant cost savings to the Gulf, while
enabling an entire new suite of edge technologies. This could be a
game changer in terms of the growth of digital oilfield
capabilities."
One of the major advantages of LTE is its ability to provide
wireless broadband service to moving vessels. Stanley Hughey, Chief Strategy Officer of
Infrastructure Networks, said, "During our study of existing
communications options in the Gulf of
Mexico it became apparent that surface vessels operating
offshore represented a large un-served market. Once deployed,
INET's LTE network will offer the only communications solution that
will allow a vessel to move seamlessly from port to sea without the
use of expensive satellite equipment." He concluded by
saying. "INET's LTE network availability, coupled with the ability
of customers to use their Verizon LTE handset offshore, is a game
changer for companies and personnel operating in the
Gulf."
To demonstrate this capability L&M Botruc Rental will deploy
LTE service on one of its fleet of offshore vessels during the
pilot period. Jacob Pitre, Vice
President of Operations for L&M Botruc Rental, said, "I am
excited about the opportunity to have one of our vessels use this
advanced wireless technology. With INET's LTE deployment, it will
deliver high speed and improved connectivity, which will provide
efficiency in our operations in the Gulf."
INET plans to begin establishing substantial LTE network
coverage over a wide area of the Gulf of
Mexico upon the successful completion of the pilot LTE
project.
About Infrastructure Networks, Inc.
Founded in March of 2011, Infrastructure Networks provides
next-generation wireless broadband communications founded on 4G LTE
wireless technology focused exclusively on Critical Infrastructure
Industries. Since its founding, the company has been rapidly
expanding its network in the Bakken Shale in North Dakota, the Niobrara Shale in
Colorado, the Eagle Ford Shale and
Permian Basin in Texas, as well as
the Texas Panhandle and in
Kern County, California.
About Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU)
Alcatel-Lucent is the leading IP networking, ultra-broadband
access and cloud technology specialist. We are dedicated to making
global communications more innovative, sustainable and accessible
for people, businesses and governments worldwide. Our mission is to
invent and deliver trusted networks to help our customers unleash
their value. Every success has its network.
For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on:
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com, read the latest posts on the
Alcatel-Lucent blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow
the Company on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.
About BlackHawk Datacom
BlackHawk Datacom is a dynamic, innovative and successful
Energy, Defense and Maritime industry communications provider. We
offer a broad array of satellite, broadband wireless and two-way
communications solutions designed to help our customers
successfully communicate with their remote field operations. Our
mission is to provide integrated Information & Communication
Technology (ICT) solutions for companies with mission critical
field operations in remote and often harsh environments.
About L&M Botruc Rental
L&M Botruc Rental, Inc. owns and operates a fleet of
offshore marine vessels serving the offshore oil and gas
exploration and production industries, primarily in the U.S.
Gulf of Mexico and in select
regions abroad. The L&M Botruc family consists of highly
qualified industry leaders known for their dedication to customer
service and - most importantly - to safety.
From the original Botruc vessels more than 60 years ago to our
brand new state-of-the-art deep water vessels, L&M designs and
constructs each vessel to maximize its usefulness in the widest
range of tasks, enabling our personnel and equipment to meet any
challenge of the ever-changing exploration and production
industries.
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SOURCE Infrastructure Networks, Inc.