[November 09, 2012]

Transit Wireless to Use Westell eSmartAccess™ Ethernet Switch in New York City's Subway System

Westell Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSTL), a leading provider of telecommunications equipment for wireline, wireless and home networks, announced today that Transit Wireless is installing Westell's eSmartAccess™ ESP8100 Series of managed Ethernet switches in the wireless communications network that Transit is building for the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA). Transit Wireless owns and operates the subway system wireless network and is in the early stages of rolling out services to all 277 underground stations in the NYCTA system.

For this project, Westell developed a new model in the ESP8100 series that includes a unique configuration of ports designed specifically to meet Transit Wireless' needs for this project. The switches provide network connectivity and power via Power over Ethernet (PoE) to the wireless radio equipment and IP cameras. The switch combines multiple functions - including telemetry for site monitoring, power and network connectivity - into a single unit.

"This is a single-unit solution that provides all the functionality we needed, saves us space in our cabinets, and reduces our cost," said Saeid Malaki, Manager Project Engineering at Transit Wireless. "It replaces multiple piees of equipment to handle all of our critical functions. Westell quickly understood what our needs were and how to resolve them."

The ESP8100 series includes Westell's SiteVu™ Secure feature which allows key telemetry data to be monitored and combined with the switch's SNMP data. The switch provides situational awareness - the temperature of the switch, the external temperature, system voltage, and cabinet door security status - and triggers an alarm whenever data is outside of user-defined parameters.

Westell is also providing full system integration for the wireless access point cabinets. This service includes assembly and compliance testing, allowing simple installation and circuit turn-up throughout the underground subway stations.

"We are very pleased to be part of this groundbreaking project," said David Robison, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Westell. "The Transit Wireless team needed more than just an Ethernet switch - they needed a full solution. This is exactly the scenario for which the ESP8100 series was designed. An Ethernet switch on the edge of the network should be able to do much more than just provide network connectivity - it should inform the operator what is going on in its environment."

About Westell

Westell Technologies (News - Alert), Inc., headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, designs, distributes, markets and services a broad range of carrier-class communications equipment, including digital transmission, remote monitoring, power distribution and demarcation products used by wireline and wireless telecommunications service providers, industrial customers, and home network users. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.westell.com.

About Transit Wireless

Transit Wireless was formed specifically to respond to the Metropolitan Transit Authority's requirement to provide a shared wireless infrastructure to enable commercial wireless services for the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) riders within 277 underground subway stations, and related opportunities. Transit Wireless owns and operates the subway station wireless communications network and acts as a neutral host for extending a variety of wireless carrier services to New York City subway riders. Major wireless carriers have already signed on to be partners on the Transit Wireless Network. In addition there is interest for several applications from public/private wireless providers. Broadcast Australia, a leader in underground wireless networks, acquired a controlling interest in Transit Wireless in 2010.

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