Mesh Networks - Motorola Case Study

Among the hard lessons learned following the tragic events of September 11 was the inability of public safety organizations to adequately communicate with each other. Under mandate by the Department of Homeland Security, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, fire and emergency medical services, were tasked with finding interoperable communications solutions for voice and data to help prevent and better manage future crisis situations. The scores of technologies available to fulfill the unique needs of public safety has left public safety IT directors and communications officers in deep confusion over which technology direction to take. That is until MeshNetworks teamed with Fusion PR.

MeshNetworks offers a mobile broadband communications technology called mesh networking that was developed by DARPA for use in situations that closely mirror those faced by public safety officers on a daily basis. In addition to offering products designed for government agencies, the company also intended to license its IP to OEMs of wireless products that extend the range and effectiveness of practically every type of wireless technology.

Having gained some reputation as an exciting future technology, MeshNetworks needed to switch gears to focus on immediate opportunities within the Homeland Security market, while building interest among the OEM community. Fusion devised a two-pronged strategy that focused on education in vertical markets and thought leadership via issues and experts campaigns in broader technology arenas. Through aggressive outreach and original content creation, Fusion was able to place contributed articles and tutorials in key vertical publications such as Mission Critical, MRT, Public Safety Report, Federal Computer Week, WashTech and Government Computer News as well as a monthly communications column in Law Enforcement Technology Magazine. In addition, speaking opportunities at major industry events such as APCO, IWCE, CTIA and ITSA strengthened MeshNetwork’s platform from which to educate decision makers in public safety markets. Campaigns targeting issues such as standards, convergence, rapidly shifting wireless technologies and larger homeland security angles, Fusion garnered consistent coverage for Mesh Networks in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Associated Press, Wired, PC Magazine, Network World, Wireless Week, RCR Wireless Wi-Fi Planet, EE Times, RF Design, Unstrung, InfoWorld and Fierce Wireless.

Fusion’s educational tactics have made MeshNetworks a much talked about company in public safety and government circles. Since beginning the program, the company has deployed more mesh networking systems for public safety than any of its competitors. Fusion’s thought leadership program also helped MeshNetwork gain the attention of the OEM community. Motorola recently brought the company under its umbrella to deliver mesh networking capable products across several of its product lines.