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BOCA RATON, Fla.January 31, 2005
Airspan Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: AIRN), a leading worldwide provider
of broadband wireless access networks, including WiMAX standard
systems, announced today that it has signed an agreement with
COLDECON S.A. of Colombia for deliveries over the next few years
of Airspans WipLL point -to-multipoint products. Deliveries
commenced in the fourth quarter of 2004.
COLDECON started its operations in the city of Cali, Colombia
in 1998 and is currently a leading nationwide provider of paging,
cellular and wireless services in Colombia. COLDECON later expanded
to Internet services and dedicated data lines to corporate customers
in the country and is currently one of the fastest growing telecommunications
companies in the Andean region. COLDECON leads the Colombian market
for paging, Internet access, Call Centers services for domestic
and international calls, radio telephony and distribution of cellular
phones. COLDECON has currently 7,000 paging customers and more
than 70,000 corporate and residential Internet customers.
The WipLL equipment to be delivered to COLDECON will be installed
initially in 28 cities in Colombia and will provide services to
customers in these cities in the early months of 2005. The network
will operate in the 5.8GHz band and will be used by COLDECON to
provide last-mile IP data connectivity and other applications
to thousands of its customers. COLDECON will have substantial
coverage in its markets with more than 40 base stations installed
and a roll out initially of more than 1,000 customers.
Juan Carlos Betacourt, Director of COLDECON Wireless Business
Unit, commented: We are excited to deploy Airspans
WipLL equipment as our next-generation network. With WipLL we
can provide high-end IP services to our customer base and aggressively
expand into new IP-based services in 2005. We have analyzed various
technologies in the market before settling on Airspans WipLL
product. The WipLL-specific differentiators from other products
high capacity per base station at reasonable costs and regional
presence - were key drivers in our decision.
We are enthusiastic about COLDECONs growth plans,
said Amit Ancikovsky, Airspans Vice President and General
Manager Latin America. "We believe that COLDECONs existing
customer base, expertise in the market and well-defined strategic
plans for the future are sound foundations to their expansion
plans. With our significant presence in Colombia, we are committed
to support COLDECON in its new strategic plans.
Airspan's WipLL platform is a low-cost high-performance Fixed
Wireless Access system designed to deliver high-speed data, Voice
over IP (VoIP) and multimedia services to residential, small business
and enterprise customers. WipLL is capable of delivering burst
data speeds of up to 4 Mbps (3.2Mbps net) to each customer. WipLL
introduces real-time adaptive modulation (2-, 4-, 8-level FSK)
and auto retransmission request (ARQ); features that offer high
quality services whilst maximizing spectrum utilization. WipLL
is available in both licensed bands (700 MHz, 2.5GHz, 2.7-2.9GHz
and 3.4-3.8GHz) and unlicensed bands (900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz).
About Coldecon S.A
More information on COLDECON can be found
at http://www.coldecon.net.co/
About Airspan Networks Inc.
Airspan Networks provides wireless voice and data systems and
solutions, including Voice Over IP (VoIP), to both licensed and
unlicensed operators around the world in frequency bands between
700 MHz and 6 GHz, including both PCS and 3.5GHz international
bands. Airspan has a strong product evolution roadmap that includes
offerings compliant with the new 802.16-2004 standard, and with
built-in 802.16e capability. Airspan is on the Board and a founder
member of the WiMAX Forum. The Company has deployments with more
than 200 operators in more than 70 countries. Airspans systems
are based on radio technology that delivers excellent area coverage,
high security and resistance to fading. Airspans systems
can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, providing an attractive
alternative to traditional wired communications networks. Airspan
also offers radio planning, network installation, integration,
training and support services to facilitate the deployment and
operation of its systems. Airspan is headquartered in Boca Raton,
Florida with its main operations center in Uxbridge, United Kingdom.
More information on Airspan can be found at http://www.airspan.com
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
including statements regarding our strategy, future operations,
financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects,
plans and objectives of management, may be deemed to be forward-looking
statements. The words "anticipates," "believes,"
"estimates," "expects," "intends,"
"may," "plans," "projects," "will,"
"would" and similar expressions or negative variations
thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although
not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations
disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not
place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There
are a number of important factors that could cause actual results
or events to differ materially from the plans, intentions and
expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make.
Investors and others are therefore cautioned that a variety of
factors, including certain risks, may affect our business and
cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth
in the forward-looking statements. These risk factors include,
without limitation, (i) a slowdown of expenditures by communication
service providers; (ii) increased competition from alternative
communication systems; (iii) the failure of our existing or prospective
customers to purchase products as projected; (iv) our inability
to successfully implement cost reduction or containment programs;
(v) a loss of any of our key customers; (vi) our ability to retain
the largest existing customer of Nortel Networks fixed wireless
business; (vii) our ability to continue to sell the existing inventory
of Nortel Networks fixed wireless business on purchase terms
and conditions comparable to those currently utilized, and (viii)
specific to this press release, Airspans ability to successfully
produce and distribute its product in Colombia; COLDECONs
ability to deploy the networks sold and to sell services on the
networks and to pay for the equipment. The Company is also subject
to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. You should
read those factors as being applicable to all related forward-looking
statements wherever they appear in this press release. We do not
assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
For Investment and Media Inquiries,
contact:
Peter Aronstam
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Airspan Networks, Inc.
Tel: +1 561 893-8682
Fax: +1 561 893-8671
Email: paronstam@airspan.com
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