ATLANTA, GA--(MARKET WIRE)--Oct 8, 2008 -- Sunbelt AG Expo 2008 exhibitors and visitors will be able to access the Internet, wirelessly, from anywhere on the show grounds for a 3rd consecutive year. After last year's very popular and successful deployment of wireless Internet, Expo sponsors and Digitel will provide this service once again.

The 2008 Sunbelt AG Expo will host new and innovative wireless AG technologies powered by a recently deployed 180 mile wireless broadband 'backbone' that connects 5 rural counties in southwest Georgia. The rural broadband network is owned and operated by the South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority (SGRita) and was built with the help of Digitel and Digitel Wireless. (For more information, go to www.sgrita.org)

The genesis of the SGRita project that will soon distribute wireless Internet access throughout Baker, Calhoun, Early, Miller, and Mitchell counties began in 2005, when the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District deployed a 100 square mile 'AG Centric' wireless broadband network in Calhoun County, GA. This 'pilot project' applied soil-moisture-irrigation applications to 17 center pivot irrigation systems on 2,467 crop acres and conserved 250 million gallons of water over a two year period.

The 'pilot project' was made possible through the combined efforts of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, Georgia's Agriculture Innovation Center, UGA's National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory, UGA's C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park and The Nature Conservancy.

As a result, $3.7 million in grants were awarded to SGRita by the OneGeorgia Authority and the Flint River Soil and Water Conservation District to build what may be the largest and most advanced 'AG centric' wireless broadband network in the United States. Marty McLendon, Flint District Chairman: "I am very pleased to see the fruition of all the hard work and dedication of so many organizations and individuals, and look forward to future phases and expansions. This broadband network is very important to Georgia agriculture and to all citizens of the state."

The SGRita network, its technology and agricultural applications, will be demonstrated this year at Sunbelt via a partnership with the UGA C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park. Sunbelt visitors will witness how this wireless WiMAX and telemetry technology can lead to enhanced irrigation management decisions and ultimately increase soil and water conservation, improve crop yields, and streamline farm management.

And that's not all this new wireless network will provide. In addition, citizens living within the SGRita 5 county coverage area will soon benefit from cost-effective high-speed wireless broadband Internet access. County schools, farms, businesses, public health facilities, public safety professionals, and other local industries will all benefit as well, and such service will increase the region's current and future economic prosperity.

About Digitel Corporation & Digitel Wireless -- is a leading systems integration company providing wireless broadband networks solutions to rural markets throughout the United States. Digitel offers a full range of next generation wireless products and consulting services including turnkey WiMAX Radio Frequency (RF) network design, tower site selection, licensed spectrum search, IP network engineering, including end-to-end network design, planning and deployment. www.digitel.net. SEE US AT SUNBELT BOOTH AB-1 # 27.

About SGRita -- The South Georgia Regional Information Technology Authority (SGRita) is a consortium of 5 counties whose goal is to deploy a state-of-the-art broadband network throughout Baker, Calhoun, Early, Miller and Mitchell Counties, specifically to areas that are underserved or un-served by existing broadband providers.

     For more information, contact:
     Liz Carver
     770-451-1111
     Email Contact
     http://www.digitel.net