Contact Information: For Investor Relations, contact: Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Investor Relations Tel. +561 395 4581 Email: clottomane@airspan.com For Media Inquiries, contact: Dori Erann Director Marketing Communications Airspan Networks Inc. Tel. +561.893.8687 Email: derann@airspan.com
Airspan Well Positioned to Extend Market Leadership in U.S. Rural Broadband Networks
Complete WiMAX FCC and RUS Certified Solutions Available Today
| Source: Airspan Networks Inc.
BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwire - February 19, 2009) - Airspan Networks Inc. (NASDAQ : AIRN ), a
leading provider of broadband wireless access networks, publicized today
the availability of the industry's most complete FCC and Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) certified lineup of fixed and mobile WiMAX Base Stations and
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) for the U.S. rural market. This
announcement follows the just-signed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
that has placed significant emphasis on rural broadband. RUS approval is
obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, affirming Rural
Development acceptance and "Buy American" status of equipment. Airspan is
among a select few WiMAX equipment manufacturers with this coveted "Buy
America" status.
"Airspan has been recognized by leading WiMAX industry analysts as the
market leader in rural America," said Declan Byrne, Airspan's Chief
Marketing Officer. "Following the recent legislation, many of our existing
customers are positioning our WiMAX equipment to the grant and loan-making
authorities of the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture. In addition, we
are working to bring together an industry-leading consortium of operators,
systems integrators and grant-writing and loan-application partners to
assist rural operators in attaining funds from the stimulus legislation,
and to deploy broadband networks in a targeted and timely manner."
Airspan has been serving rural America for several years already, with
broadband wireless equipment deployed in 43 states. Airspan is currently
providing equipment to the largest 3.65 GHz rural network in the country
being deployed by FairPoint Communications in New England. Airspan has RUS
approved and FCC certified products ready to deploy to help rural residents
and businesses get connected. Supporting bandwidth-intensive services such
as high-speed Internet access, Internet telephony (VoIP) and video
streaming, Airspan's WiMAX solutions allow for an easy, quick and
affordable deployment of a broadband network.
"Wireless broadband is an ideal technology for rural America," commented
Declan Byrne. "Whereas other technologies such as cable and DSL require
digging trenches and laying down cables to reach these remote areas, which
can be very costly and time consuming, WiMAX base stations can be easily
set up to service a rural and dispersed subscriber base with immediate
connectivity. We are aligned with the stimulus bill's broadband intentions
of reaching rural and underserved Americans quickly with quality
connectivity."
"Broadband for the rural market will be a key focus in the next 12-18
months, and WiMAX in 3.65 GHz will be a leading technology choice due to
the recent deregulation of the frequency and the economic characteristics
of WiMAX," said Emmy Johnson, Founder & Principal Analyst of Sky Light
Research. "Equipment vendors that have successfully demonstrated their
ability to provide a strong wireless product offering will benefit the
most. Sky Light's quarterly market share research, in conjunction with
Synergy Research Group, shows that the 3.65 GHz WiMAX market demonstrated
triple digit growth in the first nine months of 2008, with Airspan leading
the market at more than 30 percent share."
Earlier this week 650 mainly rural television broadcasters decided to move
ahead with the transition from analog signals to digital signals despite a
government approved delay. "We are encouraged by this decision, made by
approximately one third of the total 700 MHz broadcasters, which will allow
our current customers who hold this valuable spectrum to quickly deploy our
WiMAX equipment in this band," continued Declan Byrne.
J.J. Stutler, CEO of Stutler Technologies, a Kansas-based wireless
integrator, added, "Airspan has been a valuable partner for Stutler in the
last few years and we have made great progress in reaching rural America.
The stimulus package reserves $7.2 Billion for rural broadband, all of
which must be allocated by September 2010. We believe WiMAX is one of the
only technologies that can reasonably and cost-effectively reach the
dispersed and low-density population areas targeted by this bill. We are
looking forward to assisting current and future customers with this
growth."
Airspan joined the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small
Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO) recently. OPASTCO is a group of
hundreds of independent carriers providing voice and data services in rural
areas that are often expensive to serve due to difficult terrain and low
population density. These innovative service providers use a variety of
technologies, including WiMAX, to extend broadband to customers in hard to
reach communities.
Airspan successfully passed FCC compliance tests for its 1.4 GHz solution
earlier this week. "This continues to underscore Airspan's unique and
complete offering of WiMAX solutions. Airspan now has solutions for 700
MHz, 1.4-1.5, 3.65, 4.9, 5.4, and 5.8 GHz frequency bands, and is the only
WiMAX vendor covering all of these bands," added Byrne. "We have welcomed
the tremendous customer response for our solutions and urge interested
local exchange carriers to contact us via our North American sales offices.
The legislation's intent to rapidly distribute broadband assistance is
evident and Airspan is ideally positioned to bring operators the necessary
spectrum, certified equipment, deployment partners and grant-writing
expertise in a timely and successful manner."
Operators seeking to deploy wireless broadband in rural United States
should contact Airspan at 561.893.8687 or email sales@airspan.com. For more
information on Airspan's rural broadband WiMAX solution, visit
http://www.airspan.com/solutions_rural.aspx.
About Airspan Networks Inc.
Airspan is a leading WiMAX pure player and the solution-provider of choice
for some of the world's largest WiMAX deployments. Developing leading-edge
technology for broadband access and IP-telephony, Airspan continues to
supply operators around the world with best-of-breed solutions. With direct
sales offices throughout Asia, EMEA and the Americas, a worldwide network
of resellers and agents, and partnership alliances with major OEMs, Airspan
boasts over 100 commercial WiMAX deployments worldwide. 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
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the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking
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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. The
Company is 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, 2007 and in the Company's 2008
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. 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.