NextNet Joins WiMAX Forum; Leverages Commercial NLOS OFDM Deployment Experience to Help Drive Broadband Wireless Interoperability
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - January 14, 2004 -- NextNet® Wireless, the industry's most widely deployed provider of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) broadband wireless access systems, announced today that it has joined the WiMAX Forum as a principal member. NextNet will work with other key industry leaders to help promote and execute the WiMAX vision of broadband wireless interoperability, based on the IEEE 802.16a standard. WiMAX represents the potential for rapid mass-market acceptance and investment in wireless broadband worldwide. NextNet's two-year history of NLOS OFDM commercial deployment experience will be key in delivering the features and functionality that WiMAX-Certified™ systems will need to satisfy customers.
"We are extremely pleased to join the WiMAX Forum," stated NextNet President and CEO Guy Kelnhofer. "We are equally pleased that OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) has been selected by the members of the WiMAX Forum as the technology platform that will drive broadband wireless interoperability. NextNet is delivering NLOS OFDM broadband wireless services today in North America, Latin America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. We are committed to supporting our installed customer base, and look forward to expanding our NLOS OFDM product portfolio to include new addressable markets with WiMAX-Certified solutions," Kelnhofer added.
"We are delighted that NextNet is joining the WiMAX Forum and investing their confidence in the future of 802.16," said WiMAX Forum President Margaret LaBrecque. "The WiMAX Forum drives innovation and growth of broadband wireless access, and members like NextNet, with unique NLOS technology, help boost momentum as we work toward our most significant milestone ever: certification testing for interoperability of WiMAX-Certified products in 2004," LaBrecque added.
About WiMAX Forum
The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led, non-profit corporation formed to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products using the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN wireless MAN specifications. The Forum's goal is to accelerate the introduction of these devices into the marketplace. WiMAX-Certified™ products will be fully interoperable and support Metropolitan Broadband Fixed and Portable Applications. For more information about the WiMAX Forum and its activities, please visit www.WiMAXForum.org.
"WiMAX-Certified" is a registered trademark of the WiMAX Forum.
About NextNet Wireless, Inc.
NextNet is the industry's most widely deployed provider of NLOS plug-and-play broadband wireless access systems. NextNet's OFDM-based Expedience® system provides telecommunications carriers with turnkey solutions for rapid, low-cost deployment of high-speed, two-way voice and data services over the "last mile" of the communications network. The Expedience system is deployed in over 20 markets globally, including the world's largest NLOS plug-and-play deployment in Mexico, covering 67 million potential business and residential subscribers nationwide. NextNet and its operator partners are the recipients of seven industry technical awards for delivering NLOS service to unserved and underserved urban, suburban and rural markets. The company's primary investors include Craig O. McCaw, DCM-Doll Capital Management, Enterasys (NYSE: ETS) (formerly Cabletron Systems), Globespan Capital Partners, Star Ventures and others.
