Airspan Communications Signs Exclusive Wireless Local Loop Deal with Aliatel, Czech Republic

London, 24 February 1998 - The UK’s leading provider of Wireless Fixed Access technology, Airspan Communications Ltd., today announced signing of a major contract with Aliatel a.s. of the Czech Republic to supply Airspan AS4000 Wireless Local Loop products. The equipment will be primarily used to deliver high-speed leased-line data connections. Additional service offerings such as ISDN and voice will be added subsequently. The frame contract period is for eight years, with deliveries starting immediately.

The order is Airspan's largest to date. The WLL network will initially be deployed by Aliatel - which provides data transmission services as Leased Lines and Frame Relay - in 15 cities across the Czech Republic, and is being installed on a turnkey basis by Airspan together with a local installation partner. Later phases will ensure that most population centres are served by Airspan WLL access.

Mr. Jirí Hubka, CEO of Aliatel, said: “The AS4000 system allows Aliatel to deliver high-reliability digital data services to our customers rapidly and cost-effectively, and is a main plank in our access strategy. We have spent considerable time and energy evaluating WLL systems, and have concluded that Airspan's system is the most capable of transporting our service portfolio today and into the future. By the end of the next year, most of our major 30 cities in the Czech republic will have WLL radio coverage."

“This contract follows hot on the heels of a similar contract in Poland, and provides further endorsement of our ability to deliver high performance WLL equipment for demanding data applications,” commented Eric Stonestrom, President and CEO of Airspan Communications Corporation. “Aliatel has made a strong commitment to Airspan by selecting us as their WLL vendor, and we are delighted to have been chosen to help build the network. We look forward to working closely with Aliatel over the next few years. Airspan fully supports Aliatel’s goal of becoming a strong and respected service provider in the Czech Republic."

Data services in the Czech Republic are fully liberalised, allowing operators such as Aliatel to compete. Although voice services are currently monopolised, they will be thrown open to competition no later than 31st December 2000, as part of the Czech Republic’s EU accession process. Aliatel is already gearing up to provide voice and ISDN services alongside its existing data services.

Airspan’s AS4000 WLL system is well-suited for fast-growing companies such as Aliatel, where quality of service is key. Airspan equipment will help Aliatel connect its customers quickly, by offering high quality 64 kb/s and 128 kb/s data services. The AS4000 range of wireless access systems provides robust, broadband CDMA in the local access network. Designed to provide near line-of-sight wide-area coverage, the systems operate over distances of up to 25 kilometres.

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Notes for Editors:

Airspan Communications Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airspan Communications Corporation, is a leading supplier of high reliability, full service wireless connectivity solutions for telecommunications service providers throughout the world. Airspan Communications Corporation was formerly a division of DSC Communications Corporation. In February 1998, Airspan was divested and is now owned by a syndicate of leading venture capital firms. Airspan's Wireless Local Loop products are deployed in over 20 countries worldwide, and are today generating revenue for many leading telecommunication operators. The company is headquartered in Feltham, UK.

Aliatel a.s.

Aliatel a.s. is a telecommunications enterprise founded by Czech energy supply companies in April 1996. In April 1998 RWE Telliance AG, the German telecommunications holding of RWE AG, became a 40 % shareholder of Aliatel. In September1998 Aliatel commenced operations in the areas of data services and digital leased lines. The company employs around 130 employees. Aliatel intends to play a major role in the newly liberalised Czech telecommunications market, and has ambitions to be the first alternative telecommunications operator in the Czech Republic.

For further information contact:

Airspan Communications:
Stephen Mallinson,
Senior Director, Marketing
Tel: +44 1895 467 165
Fax: +44 1895 467 152
smallins@airspan.com

Miller/Shandwick Technologies:
Michael Selwyn
Account Director
Tel: +44 171 240 8666
Fax: +44 171 240 8668
mselwyn@miller.shandwick.com

Aliatel:
Vaclav Mach
Marketing Director
Tel: +420 2 8303 3300
Fax: +420 2 8303 3322
vaclav.mach@aliatel.cz