NEXTNET WIRELESS RECEIVES WCA AWARD FOR ADVANCED FIXED WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
MMDS NON LINE-OF-SIGHT SYSTEM FEATURES INDOOR PLUG-AND-PLAY CPE; ELIMINATES ROOFTOP ANTENNA
Minneapolis, MN — January 23, 2001 — NextNet Wireless, developer of
the industry’s first non line-of-sight MMDS broadband wireless access
system, was presented with an award for its Expedience™ advanced
fixed wireless technology, by the Wireless Communications Association
(WCA) at the 7th Annual WCA Technical Symposium, held January 17-19, in
San Jose, CA.
NextNet’s award-winning non line-of-sight Expedience™ solution
features the industry’s first indoor plug-and-play customer premise
equipment (CPE), eliminating rooftop antennas, truck-roll installations,
and the long waiting lines associated with demand for high-speed Internet
services to the home. The end-to-end system is designed for MMDS service
providers, and their residential and small office/home office subscribers.
WCA announced 16 award winners, including carriers, manufacturing solution
providers and educational institutions that are using fixed wireless to
deliver broadband access in innovative ways that demonstrate either outstanding
advanced technology or service helping to close The Digital Divide. “These
awards carry a unique worldwide distinction in our industry because they
are conferred by a jury of the leading carriers and diversified engineering
companies,” stated WCA President Andrew Kreig.
The WCA jury panel was chaired by Dr. Weston E. Vivian, a former U.S.
Congressman and president of Vivian & Associates, a leading independent
consultant, who played a pioneering role in the growth of broadband wireless
worldwide. Westin led a 9-member WCA jury panel that included executives
and technical specialists from Sprint Broadband Wireless Group, WorldCom
Broadband Solutions, WFI, LCC International, Metricom, and others.
NextNet will roll out its MMDS Expedience™
system in the first quarter of this year, shipping
in limited quantities to beta partners, with full
production targeted for the second quarter of 2001.
About NextNet Wireless
NextNet Wireless, a spin-off of ZAMBA Corporation (Nasdaq: ZMBA), is a
privately held start-up company focused on building MMDS non line-of-sight
broadband wireless access systems for rapid deployment of high-speed,
two-way voice and data services over the “last mile” of the
communications network. The Company’s end-to-end Expedience™ system
enables MMDS service providers to deliver low-cost, converged services
to residential and small business subscribers over a single multi-service
network. This technology will initially be applied to the MMDS band (2.5
to 2.686 GHz), and later leveraged to other frequency bands and applications.
NextNet Wireless is funded by an investment group led by Globespan Capital Partners,
DCM-Doll Capital Management, Cabletron Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CS), and others.
About WCA
The Wireless Communications Association International (WCA) represents
the fixed broadband wireless access industry worldwide. Membership is
comprised of fixed wireless system operators worldwide, as well as equipment
and service suppliers; video, software and other content providers; financial
institutions; engineers, attorneys and other consultants.
