NextNet and Plateau Telecommunications Ink Deal for
America's Largest NLOS Plug-and-Play Broadband Wireless Deployment
Expedience™ OFDM Platform Selected for Simplicity of Design, Fast, Reliable
Performance and Top Ratings from Current Operators
MINNEAPOLIS and CLOVIS, N.M. - November 13, 2003 -- NextNet Wireless, the industry's most widely deployed provider of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) broadband wireless access systems, and telecommunications provider Plateau Telecommunications, announced today that they have signed a deal for America's largest NLOS plug-and-play broadband wireless deployment. Plateau and NextNet will deliver NLOS broadband wireless services to underserved business and residential subscribers across a 28,000 sq. mile New Mexico footprint. Initially, Plateau will make services available to over 60,000 households in multiple locations. A future news release, timed in conjunction with product launch, will reveal service availability details. Plateau Telecommunications is a wholly owned subsidiary of ENMR· Plateau. The company currently provides advanced telecommunications services to business and residential subscribers in 14 New Mexico counties and 10 Texas Panhandle counties.
"We conducted head-to-head competitive trials with multiple vendors, and considered other platforms, such as 3G-UMTS, CDMA, and TDMA," stated David Hughes, Plateau Telecommunications Director of R&D. "NextNet's OFDM-based solution proved to meet our needs best. Their equipment operated as advertised. There were no false promises. We are impressed with the simplicity of design, the fast, stable and reliable system performance and the ease of base station and subscriber installation. We were also very pleased with the top ratings we received from NextNet's current operator partners," Hughes added.
"We are excited to partner with New Mexico's leading telecommunications provider," stated Guy Kelnhofer, NextNet President and CEO. "Plateau Telecommunications has a rock solid reputation for excellence in service, reliability and technical support. We are honored to support their broadband wireless business goals, and we look forward to working together to create new opportunities for economic development across New Mexico," Kelnhofer added.
Adlane Fellah, Senior Analyst, at Maravedis, Inc., stated, "NextNet's two-year history of successful commercial deployments of an OFDM-based system, supports our belief that OFDM will become the de-facto standard for air interface for BWA in the 2-11 GHz bands. Already, more than 70% of commercial shipments of BWA equipment are originating from suppliers that are committed to OFDM. As a result, we expect OFDM to represent 80% of NLOS systems shipped worldwide by 2007."
NextNet's OFDM-based Expedience system™ is an IP-based network that supports
delivery of all IP compatible broadband applications. These applications include
the delivery of both voice and data services such as IP telephony and video streaming
and conferencing. Expedience OFDM system products are available to address the
needs of residential, SOHO, SME, and MDU markets.
The NLOS Expedience system is currently deployed in cities throughout Asia, Africa, North America, Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean. The flexible OFDM-based platform delivers consistent broadband speeds across NLOS cell ranges of up to 30 km, using indoor, plug-and-play (self-installable) subscriber units, as well as convenient outdoor (bracket-mount) NLOS subscriber units. The Expedience base station weighs just 16 kg, and mounts easily to a pole, tower, building rooftop or standard indoor rack.
For more information on NextNet commercial installations in urban, suburban and rural locations, please contact sales@nextnetwireless.com.
About Plateau Telecommunications, Inc.
Plateau Telecommunications is a wholly owned subsidiary of ENMR· Plateau. Founded in 1949, ENMR· Plateau has 11,000 cooperative members and has over 13,000 wireline accounts. Plateau Telecommunications provides advanced telecommunications services, including long distance, Internet, operator services, business services and wireless mobile communications in 14 New Mexico counties and 10 Texas Panhandle counties. Contact: Jay Gurley, Director, Communications; jayg@plateautel.com; Tel: 505-389-5100; Fax: 505-389-5255 or visit www.plateautel.com.
About NextNet™ Wireless
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 unserved and underserved urban, suburban and rural markets.
NextNet's primary investors include Craig O. McCaw, DCM-Doll Capital Management, Enterasys (NYSE: ETS) (formerly Cabletron Systems), 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.
