Billion Teams with Tropos Networks Creating Hybrid Smart Grid Communication Solutions for Power Util

Online, August 16, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Taipei, Taiwan - Leading Asia Pacific-based provider of network equipment and green power products, Billion Electric Co., Ltd (Taiex: 3027, trading as Billion) today announced a relationship with Tropos Networks, the best-of-breed provider of wireless IP broadband networks for the Smart Grid. Billion will offer Tropos technology and its own solutions to provide Asian power utilities a hybrid Smart Grid communications network that is reliable, scalable, and high-performance.

Through a newly established agreement, Billion will market and support Tropos' field-proven and secure wide-area network solution for the Smart Grid. Utilities can use both Billion PLC/BPL and Tropos IEEE 802.11 mesh broadband network technologies for aggregating communications of multiple smart grid applications such as AMI, distribution automation, substation security, mobile workforce, etc. The Tropos Wi-Fi Mesh system can serve as the robust and reliable backhaul communication infrastructure for Billion's existing PLC/BPL based neighborhood communication technologies. Leveraging the Billion-Tropos collaboration, Billion partners can work together to provide customers an end-to-end network solution that offers flexibility and efficiency.

"Billion is one of the leading companies in Asia capable of providing both power and communication solutions. We are pleased to work with Billion to provide Tropos broadband wireless network technology to implement collaborative strategies and win-win Smart Grid business models for Asia-Pacific markets," said Tom Ayers, President and CEO of Tropos Networks.

"We are excited about this new relationship with Tropos Networks that expands our Smart Grid product portfolio and is complementary to our solutions. With Tropos, Billion now has a complete communications solution for power utilities. Tropos has an established reputation for Smart Grid communications across the world; we are excited to partner with such an industry leader. We're seeing an increase in interest from utilities in converged network technologies, and we want to offer our customers a complete communications solution. We look forward to a positive and fruitful relationship with Tropos and potential for expanding the relationship in the future," said Tim Chen, Chairman and CEO of Billion.