Northrop retains $207M wireless network contract for NYC agencies

Northrop Grumman Corp. will continue to provide operational and maintenance support for New York City’s wireless network thanks to a five-year, $207 million contract renewal, according to an announcement from Northrop.

The award from the municipal Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications calls for Northrop Grumman to oversee ongoing operations and maintenance of the New York City Wireless Network program known as NYCWiN.

NYCWiN is a high-speed, mobile data network that spans New York City's more than 300 square miles and five boroughs. It gives city agencies a secure broadband wireless infrastructure to support public safety and other city operations.

Under the terms of the contract renewal, Northrop will continue to provide operations and maintenance support, integration services and mobile application solutions to the network for enhanced and expanded public safety and public service applications for New York City agencies.

The network is currently used by police officers to access a wide array of crucial information in the field, and by the city's Department of Environmental Protection — and the public — to track water use via automatic meter reading.

Earlier this year, NYCWiN was also used to stream live video of plowed street conditions back to City Hall during blizzard conditions. Overall, the network supports more than 300 applications across dozens of agencies, according to the Northrop statement.

Northrop Grumman was awarded the initial five-year NYCWiN contract in 2006. The network became fully operational across New York City in 2009.

Northrop Grumman Corp., of Los Angeles and Falls Church, Va., ranks No. 2 on Washington Technology’s 2011 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.