Since 1991, we have been providing secure communications for the sectors modern society depends on: energy, water management, gas distribution, and ISP networks.

In 2026, we are extending this mission into a new domain – delivering advanced communication systems to those who protect us all. We bring into the defence industry the same qualities for which we are valued in critical infrastructure: 30 years of expertise, in-house development and manufacturing in Czechia, reliability, security, dedicated support…

Why Defence

Technical excellence has always been our hallmark, and our products consistently deliver more than is required for standard use. Even though we meet the strictest demands of critical infrastructure, we know there is room to go further. If we are to continue pushing the boundaries of our technology and advancing our capabilities and knowledge, we must measure ourselves against the highest standards – and those are set by the defence sector.

“Our goal has never been to make more products, but to make better products. The defence sector is an environment that naturally pushes us in that direction.” says Marek Bobula, RACOM Technical Director

Foundation You Can Rely On

Our devices operate reliably in more than 130 countries, placing us among the world’s leading communication technology providers. All development and manufacturing is carried out in-house in the Czech Republic, Europe.

Our team includes experts in RF engineering, FPGA design, duplexer and RF filter development, operating system engineering, and graphical user interface design.
We operate our own climate chambers and anechoic chamber, an SMT centre for PCB assembly, and a modern mechanical production facility including precision CNC machining.

This allows us to maintain complete control over every detail and to exceed what is considered standard in our industry.

From Experiment to Targeted Development

Our first contact with the defence community emerged naturally. Specialists working in robotics and unmanned systems noticed our radio modems for their reliability and high performance.

In 2019, we participated in the Orpheus project at Brno University of Technology, where the RipEX2 ensured data transmission for a robotic vehicle designed for hazardous-area reconnaissance. It became clear, however, that a standard RipEX was not ideal for such missions – the size and weight posed limitations. This inspired the idea of developing a specialised radio module for mobile and unmanned applications.

Geopolitical developments and the war in Ukraine in 2024 accelerated our decision to enter the defence sector fully. We began active cooperation with system integrators and joined the defence community becoming members of the ULAR group, attending at IDET, participating in the government’s PRODEF programme, and joining missions to Ukraine and the USA. Our equipment was tested during the allied CWIX 25 exercise, and we are preparing for the Silent Swarm 2026 exercise in the United States.

WaSP – A Small Module with Big Ambitions

The result of this journey is the launch of a new product line of embedded data radios. The first device in this line is WaSP – a compact, software-defined radio modem designed for demanding applications. It is primarily intended for data communication with unmanned systems (UAVs and UGVs), but it is equally suited for any application requiring reliable connectivity in harsh environments.

In WaSP, we have embedded what has always driven us – top-tier technical performance, precision, reliability, and a passion for innovation.

“Defence is a natural continuation of our story.  It is not a change of direction, but an expansion of our mission: to ensure communication where failure is not an option.” says Vít Koutenský, RACOM Executive Director

Unmanned Systems (UxV: air, land, sea)

  • Unified network for both UAV and UGV
  • 4.1 Mb/s throughput, dynamic routing
  • No need for base stations
  • Interference detection and frequency hopping

High-speed backbone up to 10 Gb/s

  • Temporary or emergency connectivity for command centers
  • Microwave point-to-point links, line-of-sight operation
  • Rapid deployment, vehicle-mounted installation
  • Antenna rotator for continuous alignment

IP backbone without line of sight

  • Interconnection of DMR base stations
  • Long-range operation in VHF/UHF bands
  • AES-256, IPsec, OpenVPN, RADIUS
  • Vehicle-mounted, low power consumption

Telemetry and surveillance networks

  • Perimeter protection and motion detection
  • Telemetry and intrusion monitoring
  • VHF/UHF bands with AES-256 encryption
  • Mesh networking with dynamic routing and retransmission

The year 2025 was an exceptionally successful one for RACOM. Our revenues increased by 30% year on year compared to 2024, with more than 85% of manufactured equipment exported to 60 countries worldwide. These results clearly reflect our long-term strategy, the technological quality of our solutions, and above all the excellent work of the entire RACOM team.

Our sincere thanks go to all employees who contributed to this achievement. Their expertise, commitment, and teamwork were key to the successful delivery of projects around the world. At the same time, 2025 once again confirmed RACOM’s position as a global leader in reliable communication technologies for mission-critical applications.

In recent years, many forecasts have predicted a decline in the radio modem market, with this technology expected to be largely replaced by cellular routers. For RACOM, however, the opposite proved true. The radio modem segment recorded its strongest growth in recent years, with sales exceeding 2024 figures by more than 50%.

Of the three product segments in which RACOM operates, the cellular router market is growing at the fastest pace, and it is also the most competitive. Despite our focus on a highly specialized segment serving mission-critical applications, we achieved year-on-year growth of nearly 20% in this area as well. A notable success was the deployment of M!DGE cellular routers for emergency services in Romania, where we secured a contract for more than 1,000 units.

The global microwave link market in which RACOM operates has been largely stagnating in recent years. This is mainly due to the modernization of mobile operators’ backbone networks for 5G, during which existing links are dismantled and subsequently reused for high-speed last-mile connections, as well as the continued expansion of fiber-optic networks. Despite these factors, we achieved growth of approximately 5% in the microwave link segment.

In January, our sales team traditionally met with company management to review the results of 2025 and discuss the outlook for 2026. These discussions confirmed that the outlook for 2026 is optimistic, with expectations of achieving results comparable to those of 2025.

Thanks to the strong team we have at RACOM, we look forward to delivering many more exciting projects in the year ahead.

Official part

We managed to go for a run

…and even ice swimming

and attend a hockey game

As in previous year, we gathered once again at Medlov to celebrate the end of the year together at our Christmas party. This time, however, we traveled back in time – the evening was inspired by the spirit of the 1930s, full of elegance, style, and a refined atmosphere.

Stylish costumes, period decorations, and a great atmosphere created the perfect setting for a pleasant get-together, shared experiences, and moments beyond the working environment. The party was not only a celebration of a very successful past year, but also an opportunity to thank all colleagues for their cooperation, dedication, and team spirit.

The entire evening once again confirmed that RACOM is not only about technology, but above all about people who form one team and truly know how to enjoy time together.

You can relive the atmosphere of the party in the photo gallery, which captures the best moments of the evening. You really should take a look!

https://youtu.be/3sMxT8BGLLg

At every company-off-site gathering we focus on sport, but this year we embraced our autumn event fully in the athletic spirit.

On a sunny day we met at the picturesque Jasenka resort near Nové Město n.M. to spend an afternoon full of fun, competition and team-spirit.

Cycling group pedalled to the venue by bikes and, as is their custom, they took a longer route to rack up as many kilometres as possible.

https://youtu.be/5dSsgsvwbDc

Our HR department had arranged a rich variety of activities for the afternoon:

  • Nordic walking proved the perfect warm-up – a walk through woodland terrain, together in rhythm and at a pace that everyone enjoyed.
  • At the tennis court there was even a queue, yet everyone got a game and no match went by without smiles between rallies.
  • The volleyball players showed the greatest endurance – playing until dusk with full commitment. There were fast sprints and tactical sets, and the atmosphere was fantastic.
  • At the ping-pong table a lively battle broke out – even those who don’t normally play walked away with smiles and the desire to repeat it.
  • For variety there was also pétanque – ideal for moments of relaxation between sporting performances and for chatting with colleagues.
  • Teqball, frisbee and traditional football had been prepared but went unused – everyone was fully occupied with the other sports.

During the afternoon refreshments were of course available, and we concluded the day by the fire with sausages on sticks. By the fire we shared stories of the sporting matches, relaxed together and agreed that it’s not about athletic performance, but about about shared moments beyond the usual work-frame.

We thank all participants for the superb atmosphere and we’re already looking forward to the next similar event!

With the implementation of ACM (Adaptive Coding and Modulation), RipEX reinforces its position as the technological leader in radio modem performance. This innovation brings together maximum speed, reliability, and fully automatic operation, taking RipEX network performance to an entirely new level.

Maximum Throughput in Every Situation

ACM continuously monitors radio link quality and dynamically adjusts modulation and coding in real time. When the signal is strong, the system automatically switches to a higher modulation (e.g., 64QAM or 256QAM) to maximize data rate and network throughput. If conditions worsen, ACM instantly reduces the modulation level to maintain link stability and reliability.

Easier Installation – No Compromise Needed

ACM fully automates the configuration of the radio channel. Users no longer need to decide which modulation to use — RipEX adapts automatically. This greatly simplifies installation and network management, especially in environments where conditions can change due to weather, interference, or distance. Thanks to ACM, RipEX automatically achieves the highest possible throughput under all conditions, proven by both laboratory tests and real-world installations.

Greatest Benefit: P-t-P Full-Duplex Links

RipEX can use ACM in all network types – point-to-multipoint as well as point-to-point. However, the greatest benefit appears in P-t-P full-duplex links, where speed is crucial. RipEX reacts instantly to signal changes in both directions independently and always selects the optimal modulation and FEC combination. This maximizes bidirectional throughput and ensures that communication remains fast, stable, and uninterrupted even under varying conditions.

With the upgrade to FW 2.2.6.0 and ACM activation, link reliability will further improve in existing installations in New Zealand and Brazil. Both projects demonstrate that RipEX delivers reliable, high-performance data and voice transmission over long radio links, even where signal quality fluctuates.

Key Advantages of ACM in RipEX

  • Maximum speed and throughput in every situation
  • Reliable operation even under fluctuating conditions
  • Automatic optimization with no manual tuning
  • Simplified installation and maintenance
ACM – An Intelligent, Self-Optimizing Network

ACM turns RipEX into a self-optimizing radio system that constantly adapts to real-world conditions.
Its behavior resembles a living organism – it observes, reacts, learns, and maintains the network in perfect balance.

ACM takes RipEX even further, ensuring it always operates at the edge of its capabilities: fast, stable, and without the need for technician intervention.

RACOM has been awarded the title of Company of the Year 2025 in the Vysočina Region. The jury particularly appreciated our long-term stability, engineering precision, and our ability to bring cutting-edge technology from a small Czech town to global markets.

Recognition for the Entire Team

“We do business because we believe that our work has a higher purpose. We want to be useful and contribute to a better world through the technologies we develop and manufacture ourselves. We want to show that even from a small town in Vysočina, we can create world-class technology. It makes sense for us to create job opportunities for talented people from the region and to be a good, trustworthy employer,” said Vít Koutenský, Executive Director, when accepting the award.

We see the Company of the Year title primarily as a recognition of everyone who works at RACOM — colleagues whose effort, expertise, and professionalism drive our company forward every day.

Strong Roots in Vysočina, Global Reach

Our story began in 1989, and we have been dedicated to wireless communication since 1991. Today, our products operate in more than 130 countries worldwide. Designed and manufactured in our own facilities in Czechia, RACOM devices combine original research, precision engineering, and deep practical know-how — ensuring reliable operation of networks in critical infrastructure sectors.

We remain deeply connected to the region we come from and are proud that right here in Vysočina, we develop technology that makes the world safer and keeps essential services running — from flowing water and reliable electricity to stable internet connections.

Shared Success

Winning the regional round of the Company of the Year competition means advancing to the national finals on December 11 in Prague.

Regardless of the national results, this success already belongs to everyone who is part of RACOM.

Thank you to all our colleagues, partners, and friends for being part of our journey.

Update – December 11, 2025

National Round – Success Confirmed

We are honored to announce that RACOM has also succeeded at the national level in the Company of the Year 2025 competition. We achieved an overall second place in the Czech Republic, confirming our strong position not only regionally, but also nationwide.

The gala evening held at Žofín Palace in Prague, during which the awards ceremony took place, was broadcast by Czech Television. A recording of the broadcast is available on iVysílání here. RACOM was represented at the ceremony by Executive Director Vít Koutenský.

His appearances in the broadcast recording can be viewed at:

  • 59:57 – introduction of RACOM,
  • 1:05:20 – interview upon advancing to the superfinal,
  • 1:09:45 – award presentation and Vít Koutenský’s acceptance speech.

This award is yet another confirmation of RACOM’s long-term quality, innovation, and strong position in both the Czech and international markets.

The story of the MR series radio modems is a great example of the lasting value, reliability, and long-term commitment RACOM provides to its customers. Introduced in 2005, their production will be discontinued on September 30, 2025, after twenty years on the market. Warranty and service for units already delivered, however, will of course continue.

A Success Story

RACOM products have always represented state-of-the-art technology at the time of their launch, and the MR series was no exception. Many users still rely on them today, even though they lack modern features such as a web interface. In many networks, generations of engineers have come and gone, and younger staff often don’t even realize which devices are transmitting their data—simply because the modems have never required their attention or servicing.

Everything Has Its Time

RACOM always strives to meet customer needs, which is why we manufacture our products as long as they are required. Although MR-based networks are still running, after twenty years they are technologically outdated and no longer meet today’s security requirements. Since they are typically deployed in critical infrastructure where security demands are the highest, gradual modernization is essential. Most customers prefer to continue using secure private radio networks and reliable RACOM devices, and are therefore replacing their MR modems with the latest RipEX2.

Migration in Practice

RACOM highlighted the need for migration as early as 2021 in a dedicated webinar. In recent years, numerous networks especially in the water industry have been modernized. In many applications, private radio is combined with cellular connectivity, either through the mPCIe cellular module integrated in RipEX2 or via the standalone M!DGE cellular router, which runs compatible firmware and complements RipEX2 seamlessly.

MR Repairs and Support Continue

RACOM will never let its customers down. We still repair our very first product, the R2CW transceiver for radio-amateurs introduced back in 1989. MR radio modems whether under or out of warranty will continue to be serviced as well. However, as component availability declines, a day may come when certain repairs are no longer possible. That is yet another reason not to postpone migration.

We Value Your Trust

We deeply appreciate all customers who use our products. If you are still operating MR modems (or legacy equipment from other manufacturers) and decide to modernize your network with RipEX2, we are ready to offer special migration conditions, including technical support. Contact us at racom@racom.eu, we will gladly advise you and help prepare your migration plan.

From 1 August 2025, the European Union’s updated Radio Equipment Directive (RED) introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for internet connected devices sold in the EU. These rules – covering network protection, data security, and fraud prevention – are now essential for obtaining the CE mark.

At RACOM, we are proud to confirm that our entire product portfolio – RAy3 microwave links, M!DGE3 cellular routers, and RipEX2 radio routers – already meets these new requirements. Even better, this compliance is delivered to our customers through free, regular, incremental firmware upgrades, ensuring your deployed devices stay secure and up to date without extra cost or disruption.

What the New RED Cybersecurity Rules Mean

The updated RED focuses on three areas, with the first one being the most relevant for our type of devices:

  • Network protection (Art. 3.3 d) – Devices must not harm networks or misuse resources in ways that degrade service quality.
  • Data and privacy safeguards (Art. 3.3 e) – Strong encryption, secure authentication, and privacy-by-design measures must protect personal data at every stage.
  • Fraud prevention (Art. 3.3 f) – Features like cryptographic FW signing, and anti-tampering mechanisms must prevent device cloning or misuse.

To help manufacturers demonstrate compliance, the EU published the EN 18031 series of harmonized standards in January 2025, giving a clear framework for building security into wireless products from the ground up.

Security by Design – The RACOM Approach

Our engineering teams have ensured that RAy, M!DGE, and RipEX devices meet – and in many areas exceed – RED’s cybersecurity requirements. Network integrity is protected through secure firmware, various traffic encryption technologies and in the case of RipEX2 radio interface through our unique automatic AES key rotation.

We also make security effortless for users. Our new first-login procedure – featured in the short video below – guides every new owner through creating a custom username and password. A built-in visual password strength meter helps ensure that passwords are not just unique, but strong enough to withstand real-world threats.

Why This Matters for Your Projects

When you choose RACOM, you get more than just hardware. You gain:

  • Full EU RED cybersecurity compliance across RAy, M!DGE, and RipEX
  • Free, incremental firmware feature and security updates that keep devices secure over time and even expand their capabilities
  • Future-proof technology ready for evolving regulations and security challenges
  • User-friendly setup that reduces support calls and speeds onboarding
  • Long-term reliability and trust from a company with decades of industrial networking expertise
See It in Action

Watch our quick video to see how easy it is to set up your RACOM device securely from the very first login. With real-time password strength feedback, you can be confident your connection is protected from day one.

If you’d like to know which RACOM solution is the best fit for your IoT, SCADA, or telecom project, get in touch with our team today. We’ll help you deploy connectivity that’s secure, reliable, and ready for the future.

Securing essential human needs is at the heart of what we do. Delivering drinking water and keeping wastewater treatment plants running belong among the most fundamental requirements of every society. For over 30 years, RACOM equipment has been trusted in these critical infrastructures, providing reliable communication that keeps water networks safe, connected, and under control.

The very first RACOM radio modems were deployed in Czech and Slovak water networks back in 1994. Since then, our solutions have grown to power nearly all of the fifty largest water utilities in Czechia and they are now widely adopted abroad. In Austria and Norway, RACOM holds more than 80% market share. In Norway alone, where radio communication is indispensable due to harsh terrain and sparse population, our devices are in use across more than 100 locations.

Many of these radios have been running 24/7 for nearly three decades. While their reliability is unquestioned, the time has come to look ahead and prepare networks for new challenges.

Why Upgrade Now?

Several key drivers make modernization essential:

  • Cybersecurity & RED compliance – From 1 August 2025, all wireless devices sold in the EU must comply with the updated Radio Equipment Directive (RED). Its enhanced cybersecurity requirements go beyond what older radios including MR series and the original RipEX can support.
  • Ease of operation – Modern SCADA teams expect user-friendly interfaces. Older radios often rely on command-line access only, which is no longer practical.
  • Component availability – While RACOM continues to repair older products (and can even deliver new units in some cases), sourcing discontinued components is becoming increasingly difficult.
  • Data capacity – Legacy radios cannot keep pace with the growing bandwidth needs of today’s SCADA systems.
  • Hybrid networks – Modern water utilities often require combinations of private radio channels with public 4G/5G networks. Older radios were not built for this flexibility.

These challenges affect not only RACOM MR radios and the first-generation RipEX, but also third-party radios from Motorola, Kenwood, SATEL, CONEL, and others.

Real-World Examples of Modernization

Utilities across Europe are already upgrading to RipEX2 and M!DGE:

  • Vodovody a kanalizace Havlíčkův Brod (CZ) replaced 17-year-old MR400 modems with RipEX2.“RipEX2 solved our network capacity issue. It’s also the first step towards migrating the whole system to modern IP communications fully aligned with current SCADA requirements.”
  • Vodovody a kanalizace Hradec Králové (CZ) moved from Conel radios to a hybrid RipEX2 + M!DGE3 solution, using mobile networks as backup channels.
  • Liptovská vodárenská spoločnosť (SK) is migrating from Motorola and Kenwood radios to RipEX2 in the Low Tatras.“RipEX2 brought us the security upgrade we needed, without losing performance,” says the LVS network manager.
  • Trenčianske vodárne a kanalizácie (SK) replaced 112 RipEX units with RipEX2, complemented by M!DGE routers for secure remote access.“We wanted a smooth transition. RipEX2’s compatibility with our existing setup made the migration straightforward,” explains the operations manager.
  • Brněnské vodárny a kanalizace (CZ) are deploying M!DGE3 alongside RipEX2, creating an independent, cybersecure channel for sensitive systems.
  • In Austria and Norway, utilities are replacing legacy networks with RipEX2 to achieve RED compliance without reducing availability during migration.

Even in networks where RAy microwave links provide high-capacity backbone connectivity (e.g. VaK Hodonín or JVS), RipEX2 plays a crucial role by delivering secure and reliable last-mile radio communication.

More Than Just Compliance

Moving to RipEX2 brings far more than RED compliance:

  • Future-proof performance with high throughput and low latency
  • Compatibility with existing devices for phased migrations
  • Enhanced network capability with modern, more powerful radios
  • Downtime-free deployment thanks to RACOM’s Migration Solution
  • Long-term security with free, regular, incremental firmware updates

For operators, this means extending the life of their infrastructure while gaining confidence that their network is ready for the next decades.

Ready to Modernize?

Whether you are replacing a handful of radios or planning a full network upgrade, RipEX2 offers a secure, reliable, and fully RED-compliant solution for your water distribution system.

When combined with M!DGE cellular routers for hybrid access and RAy microwave links for backbone connectivity, RACOM delivers an integrated communication platform for critical infrastructure,  serving rural communities, cities, and national networks alike.

Contact our team to explore your upgrade options and see how RipEX2, M!DGE3 and RAy3 can bring your network into the future – securely, smoothly, and without disruption.

©  2026 RACOM s.r.o. All Rights Reserved.