Contact Information: For Investor Relations contact: Charlotte Laurent-Ottomane Investor Relations Tel. +1 561.395.4581 Email: clottomane@airspan.com For Media Inquiries, contact: Dori Erann Director Marketing Communications Airspan Networks Inc. Tel. +1 561.893.8687 Email: derann@airspan.com
Australian Operator, BigAir, Expanding Network With Airspan WiMAX(TM) Solution
Extending Broadband Next-Generation Services to Australians
| Source: Airspan Networks Inc.
BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwire - October 12, 2009) - Airspan Networks Inc. (PINKSHEETS : AIRO ), a
leading provider of broadband wireless access networks, announced today
that BigAir Group Limited (BigAir), an Australian wireless broadband
service provider, is expanding WiMAX services across Australia.
Following successful deployments in Melbourne and Sydney, BigAir is
continuing to use Airspan WiMAX equipment to expand its service offerings
into the Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Gold Coast markets in the 5.8 GHz
and 5.4 GHz frequency bands. BigAir first selected Airspan after an
extensive trial in 2007.
Serving businesses throughout the region with voice and data services, the
Airspan network enables BigAir to offer reliable, secure and robust
connectivity. With a consistently growing customer base, BigAir is helping
bridge the digital divide while delivering 4G technology to
bandwidth-hungry Australians.
"BigAir has been very successful in serving our customer base," said BigAir
CEO, Jason Ashton. "We own and operate Australia's largest fixed wireless
next-generation broadband network which now covers the six largest cities
in Australia. Utilizing Airspan's solution allows us to offer our customers
higher speed, greater reliability and lower-cost broadband services."
In addition to the WiMAX solution, BigAir is using Airspan's FlexNET
backhaul solution for higher point-to-point bandwidth requirements.
"We have been very impressed with BigAir's success and growth," commented
Henrik Smith-Petersen, President of Business Development for Airspan. "This
achievement further strengthens Airspan's global leadership position. Our
advanced technology offers the functionality and business model that allows
our partner's success. We are especially excited by this growth in
Australia. With the largest broadband stimulus package of any country thus
far, the Australian government has proven its interest in delivering
high-speed broadband services to every Australian. BigAir and Airspan are
playing a role in this initiative."
WiMAX technology is expected to play a significant role in Australia's
National Broadband Initiative. With a massive $30 billion investment, the
network will connect 90 percent of homes, schools and workplaces, and
businesses to high-speed broadband over the next 8 years. WiMAX will be
especially useful in connecting remote and rural areas.
About BigAir Group
ASX Listed BigAir Group (BGL) owns and operates Australia's largest
metropolitan fixed WiMAX broadband network.
The Australian business market comprises nearly one million businesses and
BigAir's network provides near blanket coverage across Sydney, Melbourne,
Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and the Gold Coast. BigAir's competitive
advantage includes its state-of-the-art WiMAX network which allows it to
install business-grade symmetric broadband services at speeds up to 100Mbps
and distances up to 30km from its base stations with installation taking
just a few hours. Most of BigAir's competitors rely on access to Telstra's
copper network which can takes weeks to install a service and often does
not deliver fast symmetric speeds. Mobile wireless networks such as the 3G
mobile phone networks are also not nearly fast enough to meet the demands
of business Internet users in an office environment. www.bigair.com.au
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
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. 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, 2008. 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.