Virtual Fence – Wireless Solution for US-Mexican Border Wall

Virtual Fence – Wireless Solution for US-Mexican Border Wall

virtual fence

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A virtual fence could supply an additional security layer to the wall that the Trump administration is planning to build along the US border with Mexico.

A new wireless technology for wide area data communications including virtual fence applications has been introduced recently. The technology was developed by Full Spectrum, a supplier of private broadband cellular data networks for critical infrastructure and defense applications.  

The technology was designed to support the wide area data communications needs for critical infrastructures, including cybersecurity requirements for mission-critical electric grids.  It is directly transferable to the defense and security industries with its ability to create cost-effective virtual monitoring and security along the nation’s borders including land, air and sea.

Previous projects, such as the SBInet virtual fence commissioned by the Department of Homeland Security in 2006, were scrapped after failing to meet minimum objectives both in area coverage and with substantial cost overruns after $1 billion was spent covering only 59 miles of the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. However, new industrial wireless and sensor technologies, fueled by the industrial internet of things (IoT), are now capable of meeting the coverage, latency and security needs that could not be attained by technologies used for previous defense projects.

According to Full Spectrum’s announcement published on globenewswire.com, the company’s software-defined radio (SDR) technology for private wireless data networks provides expanded network coverage and secure, faster data communications all at a fraction of the cost of previous network deployment projects. The company estimates that its wireless base station technology can create coverage along the entire U.S.-Mexico border for less than $10,000 per mile, which is roughly one-tenth of 1% of the $12.5 million per mile estimate for the physical wall.

Based on company estimates, the wireless technology, which leverages the existing tower and backhaul infrastructure installed along the border, could be deployed and operating within 12 months of project authorization. This would effectively provide an additional layer of security before, during and after physical border completion.  In addition, the company’s remote radios could be installed virtually anywhere within a 30-mile range of the border to create a secure, internet of things for digital security devices including drones, video cameras, thermal imaging devices and low cost sensor networks.

“The renewed discussion related to border security has significantly increased the market opportunity for our technology,” said Stewart Kantor, CEO of Full Spectrum.” Kantor further stressed, “As the federal government explores options to secure the border, we certainly look forward to the opportunity of presenting our solution to quickly increase security while easing the burden on U.S. taxpayers.”

The Company expects that the new demands for homeland security will help foster new relationships between the federal government and Silicon Valley technology companies.