Alcatel has signed a multimillion dollar agreement with Great River Energy (Elk River, Minnesota, U.S.) to supply and install a microwave communications network covering multiple phases. Alcatel will replace and upgrade Great River Energy's existing analog microwave radios. This advanced network will provide Great River Energy better internal communications capability and allow it to monitor and control its power generation and transmission systems with increased reliability and efficiency.

Alcatel will provide an end-to-end solution based on Alcatel MDR-8000 radios to the Minnesota electric cooperative whose first priority is improving and enhancing the generation and delivery of electric power to its 28-member distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. By using the Alcatel MDR-8000 system, Great River Energy will increase the capacity of its internal communications network and augment its supervisory, control and data acquisition (SCADA) capabilities to obtain faster and more accurate information on status of the power grid, as well as the improved ability to control its operation.

The MDR-8000 is ideal for transport of remote monitoring and control information from utility company sensors, backhaul of land mobile radio signals, and emergency restoration of communication networks. The reliability and scalability of Alcatel's microwave transport platform will not only expand Great River Energy's visibility of its critical infrastructure, but also will enable reduced costs and improved reliability of Great River Energy's power generation and transmission service.
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