Redline Announces $14 Million Investment in Industrial 5G Development by the Government of Canada Strategic Innovation Fund (“SIF”)

Canada NewsWire

TORONTO , March 31, 2021 /CNW/ – Redline Communications Group Inc. (“Redline”) (TSX: RDL), a leading-edge provider of industrial wireless broadband network connectivity solutions for mission-critical applications, is pleased to announce today the signing of a contribution agreement by the Government of Canada Strategic Innovations Fund (“SIF”) to accelerate the  development of mission critical Industrial 5G products and solutions.

RDL has a long history of innovation for satisfying industrial customer’s needs for reliable mission critical wireless networks. As most wireless vendors cater to mobile network operators (MNO), there is a clear gap in the industrial 5G (i5G) market that will be addressed by this investment.

The investment by SIF will accelerate the development of the world’s first i5G platform catering to Mission Critical Private Network customer, adopters of Industry 4.0.  This coming wave of IoT data driven operations, from manufacturing to mining, needs a highly reliable, smart wireless network to accompany it, tailored to the unique and highly demanding industrial customer. With its established and growing base of network installations worldwide, Redline is well-positioned to develop and deploy these solutions in support of the growth of our customers worldwide.

“This investment will accelerate the innovative development of products and solutions for mission critical industrial networks developed in conjunction with our leading customers worldwide,”, stated Stephen Sorocky , Redline’s CEO. “We express our appreciation for the confidence shown by the Strategic Innovations Fund  in their support to creating a world leading team of highly skilled staff and increased collaboration with universities.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the SIF will reimburse 40% of eligible costs incurred for specified research and development projects to be undertaken by the Company estimated to total $37 million over a period of 4 ½ years.  A maximum of $14 million is available to the Company by way of a repayable loan.  The SIF project period runs from August 2020 to April 2025.  Cost reimbursements under the SIF program will be provided to Redline on a quarterly basis based upon the eligible spending of the prior quarter.  Reimbursements will commence in the period following execution of the agreement.  Amounts received by the Company under the SIF program are repayable, based upon revenues of the Company, beginning in April 2028 for a period of up to 15 years concluding in 2043.  The maximum amount repayable by the Company is 1.45 times the reimbursed funds.  The SIF program also has certain conditions related to Canadian employment, employment conditions, ownership of R&D and other matters and financial covenants, including change of control of the Company.

About Redline Communications
Redline Communications (TSX:RDL) designs and manufactures powerful wide-area wireless networks for mission-critical applications in challenging locations. Redline networks are used by Oil & Gas companies onshore and offshore, Mining companies on surface and underground operations, by municipalities to remotely monitor infrastructure, and by specialized telecom service providers to deliver premium services. Hundreds of businesses worldwide rely on Redline to engineer, plan and deliver ruggedized, secure and reliable networks for their IoT, voice, data, and video communications needs. For more information visit www.rdlcom.com .

SOURCE Redline Communications Group Inc.

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