NextNet Wireless and iMAX Ink Deal to Deliver Broadband Wireless Mobile Services in the Philippines
Next Mobile (formerly Nextel Philippines) Will Manage iMAX Deployment Targeting 77 Million Residents Nationwide and 4 Million Filipino Americans Through Bundled Services
Minneapolis, MN USA and Manila, Philippines - April 2, 2003 — NextNet Wireless, the industry's most widely deployed provider of non line-of-sight (NLOS) broadband wireless access systems, and Internet Service Provider iMAX Communications, Inc. announced today that they have signed a contract to deliver NLOS broadband wireless services in the Philippines using NextNet's Expedience™ system. iMAX will commence broadband wireless service in the summer of 2003, targeting 5 million of the 12 million business and residential subscribers in metropolitan Manila — one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Next Mobile will provide the required infrastructure and key personnel to implement and manage the iMAX network build out. iMAX plans to partner with local ISPs to expand broadband wireless service to cover 77 million Filipinos nationwide, or 98% of the population of the Philippines.
"We see a huge potential for broadband wireless services in the Philippines," stated Mel Velarde, President and CEO of iMAX and concurrent President and CEO of Next Mobile. "We teamed up with NextNet because their OFDM-based NLOS system is the right platform for a mobile data play. NextNet is uniquely situated to help us reach our objective of delivering future 4G mobile voice, video and data services. We are extremely energized by the proven success of the NextNet NLOS business model, and we look forward to launching service in Manila and expanding nationwide," Velarde added.
"It is a pleasure to work with the iMAX team," stated Guy Kelnhofer, NextNet CEO. "It is a great honor to win the confidence of a service provider who is targeting nationwide deployment. The synergy of iMAX and Next Mobile provides us with a unique advantage of time-to-market capabilities. We are extremely pleased that our carrier-of-carriers business model has been selected, once again, to provide broadband wireless coverage for millions of subscribers in one of the world's most densely populated nations," Kelnhofer added.
NextNet's Expedience™ NLOS broadband wireless system is an IP-based network that supports mobile delivery of broadband applications. Today, this broadband mobility is being employed at speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour in Mexico City, the most densely populated city in the world.
The Expedience system is currently deployed in cities throughout Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Mexico. NextNet provides wireless carriers with proven superiority in the critical areas of coverage, capacity and capital cost, allowing for rapid penetration into the untapped business and residential markets. The company's flexible OFDM-based platform delivers consistent broadband speeds across NLOS cell radiuses of up to 30 km, using indoor, plug-and-play (self-installable) subscriber units, as well as convenient outdoor (bracket-mount) NLOS subscriber units.
About NextNet® Wireless, Inc.
NextNet Wireless is the industry's most widely deployed provider of non-line-of-sight (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 70 million potential business and residential subscribers nationwide.
NextNet is the recipient of seven industry technical awards for delivering NLOS service to under-served urban, suburban and rural markets. NextNet's primary investors include DCM-Doll Capital Management, Enterasys (NYSE: ETS) (formerly Cabletron Systems), Green Ventures, Globespan Capital Partners, Star Ventures and others. Contact: Barbara Heine, Director, Marketing Communications; heineb@nextnetwireless.com ;Tel: 952-967-1116; Fax: 952-929-4080 or visit www.nextnetwireless.com.
About iMAX Communications, Inc.
iMax is a Filipino corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 28 January 2002. As a duly registered value added service provider, it is licensed to engage in, conduct, and carry on the business of internet and telecommunication, providing domestic and international message delivery of value-added network services as agent of a duly enfranchised telecommunications/broadcasting service provider, and buying and selling, servicing, importing and exporting telecommunications equipment, accessories and parts. It is engaged in the business of providing end-to-end wireless Internet access to business, schools, and residential customers. Contact: Justinian Adviento, Justin_Adviento@Nextel.com.ph or Justin.Adviento@imx.ph; Tel: 632-786-2000 ext.4124 or visit www.imx.ph
About Next Mobile, Inc.
(formerly Nextel Communications Philippines, Inc.)
Next Mobile, founded in 1987, is a consortium made up of a global team of techno entrepreneurs. The company provides wireless data services to 35,000 subscribers across the Philippines, including radio paging systems, personal communications network, trunked radio systems, cellular mobile telephone systems, etc. Next Mobile has a network of 140 base stations and has a footprint covering Metro Manila and Southern Luzon from Pampanga to Batangas, the main commercial areas of the country. Future plans include expansion into all commercially important areas in the country, beginning with the major southern cities of Cebu and Davao. Next Mobile, Inc. works closely with various business partners as well as its major supplier Motorola on product development and evolution of new services especially wireless data applications that will propel the company to continue providing superior telecommunications services to its chosen markets. The company's primary objective is to be the preferred provider of communications solutions to business, particularly industries and vertical segments where it has been able to penetrate successfully (as an alternative provider). These industries include the wholesale and retail trade, construction, transportation, manufacturing, and government services. The Company also sees a secondary target market in high-end/upscale individuals. Next Mobile, Inc. plans to introduce wireless broadband mobile services in the Philippines in the summer of 2003.
