Microwave Data Systems, Larson Data Communications Provide Montana-Dakota Utilities with Mobile Data Access

UTC EXPO 2004, NASHVILLE (May 18, 2004) - Microwave Data Systems (MDS), a world leader in industrial, wireless, networking solutions with applications in the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), public safety, telecommunications, process automation and online transactional markets, together with Full-Service Partner Larson Data Communications, today announced it is providing the design, development and implementation of a mobile IP/Ethernet data system for Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., a division of MDU Resources Group, Inc. The radio network, covering more than of 2,200 square miles in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, will provide the wireless transport for IP network connectivity in the company's fleet of service vehicles. Upon completion of the project, Montana-Dakota field service technicians will utilize IP connectivity to access and update work orders and service requests from their service vehicles. "Having immediate access to information in the remote areas of the Upper Plains means more efficient operations for our employees and better service for our customers," said Eric Hope, Montana-Dakota communications engineer. "And since the radios are based on standard Ethernet, we have the flexibility to scale by adding or changing applications that will increase efficiencies." The first phase of the project will contain MDS entraNET 900TMs for mobile connectivity and MDS iNET 900Rs for backhaul and replacement of expensive leased-line circuits. The second phase will expand the coverage area by increasing the number of access points and the number of vehicles capable of mobile data services. The new MDS mobile data system is a simpler, faster Ethernet solution compared to the serial based, low-speed, licensed, wireless mobile data and dial-up capability already in use by most of Montana-Dakota's service technicians. Initial testing indicated an 18-fold increase in speed compared to the licensed system. "In addition to considering an upgrade to our licensed system, we also envisioned using a 700 MHz system when the spectrum utilization guidelines were finalized by the FCC," Hope said. "The MDS entraNET at 900 MHz, provided the bandwidth, security, and coverage we needed without waiting for the 700 MHz spectrum or the new equipment to be developed for it." About Montana-Dakota Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. distributes natural gas and provides related value-added products and services in the northern Great Plains. Montana-Dakota also generates, transmits and distributes electricity and is a division of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE: MDU). About Larson Data Communications Larson Data Communications, based in Mitchell, SD, serves customers in the upper Midwest United States and specializes in total solutions connectivity for industrial and commercial wireless and networked data systems. They are a MDS Full Service Partner, providing service to the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. About Microwave Data Systems Microwave Data Systems Inc., headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., designs and manufactures networked high-speed, point-to-multipoint, and medium- and low-capacity point-to-point industrial, microwave radios for use in oil and gas, utility, lottery, traffic monitoring, public safety, and telecommunication provider industries. Learn more about the company at www.microwavedata.com.