News Release

COMTECH EF DATA COMPLETES INTEROPERABILITY TESTING WITH MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC TO ENHANCE MARITIME CONNECTIVITY

Tempe, Arizona, February 21, 2012 – Comtech EF Data Corporation announced today that it has completed interoperability testing with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation’s MVA100 Maritime VSAT stabilized antenna system and the ROSS Open Antenna Management (ROAM) protocol.  The interoperability enables the MVA100 Maritime VSAT antenna system on vessels to globally roam across multiple satellite beams, maintaining connectivity moving through different satellite footprints.  

The ROAM protocol offers a common management interface for Comtech EF Data’s Roaming Oceanic Satellite Server (ROSS) and third-party Antenna Control Units (ACUs) by providing a generic set of commands, information, interfaces and status queries.  ROSS is an integrated location server that works in conjunction with Comtech EF Data’s Vipersat Management System to facilitate on-the-move satellite communications for oceanic vessels.  ROSS enables remote modems to interface with stabilized, auto-tracking antennae, maintaining connectivity as vessels move through footprints of different satellites. Vessel position data, satellite signal and management status are constantly monitored to determine when satellite handoff is necessary. 

As ROSS can support many types of ACUs, the ROAM protocol reduces the complexity and the variations by providing basic parameters required to globally roam across multiple satellite beams.  The ROAM protocol provides uniformity in implementation of third-party antenna manufacturers’ interfaces, while enabling the unique characteristics and proprietary techniques of different manufacturers.

"The interoperability of ROAM and ROSS with Mitsubishi Electric’s VSAT antenna system will provide maximum bandwidth efficiencies and seamless global connectivity for oceanic vessels," said Daniel Enns, Senior Vice President Strategic Marketing and Business Development for Comtech EF Data.

Mitsubishi Electric’s MVA100 Maritime VSAT antenna system is a 1-meter dish designed for earth station on the vessel applications. The Ku-Band system has a robust and reliable antenna control.  It features a stable, 3-axis stabilized mount for full hemispherical coverage under severe motion conditions, and complies with ITU-R requirements for severe vessel motion and vibration.

About Comtech EF Data
Comtech EF Data Corporation, a subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications Corporation (NASDAQ: CMTL), is the recognized global leader in satellite bandwidth efficiency and link optimization. The advanced communication solutions encompass the Advanced VSAT Solutions, Modems, RAN & WAN Optimization, Managed Bandwidth and RF products. The Company is recognized as a technology innovator, and has a reputation for exceptional product quality and reliability. The solutions enable commercial and government users to reduce OPEX/CAPEX and to increase throughput for fixed and mobile/transportable satellite-based applications. For more information, visit www.comtechefdata.com.

Media Contacts:  
Sue Lassandro
Comtech EF Data
Telephone +1.480.333.2200
Email slassandro@comtechefdata.com
Web www.comtechefdata.com
2114 West 7th Street
Tempe, Arizona 85281 USA