Wireless Coverage Is Now On-Board Italy’s High Speed Trains, Thanks to CommScope’s Andrew Solutions

January 18, 2011 HICKORY, N.C.

Providing reliable wireless coverage inside large buildings can be challenging, but doing so in structures moving at 350 kilometers per hour is downright daunting. That is why Telecom Italia called on Andrew Solutions, the CommScope, Inc. division that is a global leader in wireless communication systems and products, to provide its equipment, commissioning services, and expertise in support of 2G and 3G wireless networks on Trenitalia Frecciarossa high speed trains in Italy.

As part of the new coverage and capacity project led by Telecom Italia, Andrew’s in-train solution is extending reliable wireless signals to passengers and staff on all 60 Frecciarossa trains.

High speed trains’ metalized windows can dramatically reduce signal penetration into the carriages, resulting in spotty coverage and an increase of dropped calls. The pure speed of high speed trains complicates the hand off of wireless signals between base stations. And the complexities of different terrain and rapidly changing outdoor signal levels of the various networks involved increase the complexity.

Andrew’s wireless coverage solution is helping produce elongated cells that reduce the number of handovers required while boosting signal strength within the handover region. The Frecciarossa high speed train line is the fastest in Trenitalia’s fleet, with speeds reaching between 300-350 kilometers per hour. Installation of the new system on the Trenitalia Frecciarossa high speed trains was completed in December.

“Though Andrew has an extensive history of supplying wireless coverage and capacity solutions for metropolitan railways worldwide, this is our largest in-train coverage project ever in Italy,” said Samuel Buttarelli, director of regional sales, Southern Europe, Andrew Solutions. “We are proud to work closely with Telecom Italia in furnishing this solution.”

Andrew supplied about 600 Node AM dual band digital repeaters and kilometers of RADIAX® radiating cable with connectors and accessories, in addition to helping design and commission the wireless coverage system. An Andrew Node AM repeater, pickup antenna for GSM 900 MHz/UMTS 2100 MHz/GPS frequency bands, and meters of RADIAX are installed in each Frecciarossa train carriage.

CommScope’s Andrew Solutions is a world leader in providing coverage and capacity system solutions, including ION™ distributed antennas systems, Node series repeaters, HELIAX® coaxial cable, RADIAX® leaky cables, CellMax® indoor antennas and other passive components. Andrew has nearly 30 years of experience in providing, installing and managing complex radio signal distribution systems for railway tracks, large-scale buildings, radio operators and telephone operators around the world. Major projects have included the ICE high speed train line in Germany; metro rails in Beijing, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Montreal; major venues such as the Dallas Cowboys Stadium and World Cup 2010 stadiums, and numerous international airports.

RADIAX, HELIAX and Cell-Max ares registered trademarks and ION is a trademark of CommScope, Inc.

About CommScope:

CommScope, Inc. (www.commscope.com) provides essential infrastructure that makes communication possible. We empower people to connect and communicate seamlessly where, when, and how they choose. Our solutions and services for wired and wireless networks enable high-bandwidth data, video, and voice applications everywhere—at home, at work, and on the go. Through every wave of technology, CommScope helps the world connect and evolve. Backed by numerous respected brands such as Andrew®, SYSTIMAX® and Uniprise®, CommScope supports customers in more than 100 countries around the world through its focus on integrity, ethics, quality and technical innovation.

This press release includes forward-looking statements that are based on information currently available to management, management’s beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those currently expected. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see CommScope’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, the company does not intend, and is not undertaking any obligation or duty, to update these statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

News Media Contact:
Rick Aspan, CommScope
+1 708-236-6568 or publicrelations@commscope.com
or
Barbara Ghini, Andrew Solutions (Europe)
+39-0546-697139
or
Investor Contact:
Phil Armstrong, CommScope
+1 828-323-4848