Netro Corporation Extends Leadership Position in Broadband Wireless Access Technology with Latest Release of AirStar System
SAN JOSE, Calif. & HANNOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2002--
Release 3 Offers More Coverage, Greater Capacity and a Broader Range of Services, for Cellular Infrastructure Applications and Access
Netro Corporation (Nasdaq:NTRO - news), a leading provider of broadband wireless access systems, today announced the availability of the latest release of AirStar(TM). AirStar Release 3 features hardware and software enhancements designed to enable Netro's customers to better provide access applications to businesses and carry traffic from cellular base stations to the network. The Release 3 family of products offers increased cell coverage, greater bandwidth capacity and service enhancements. Netro made the announcement this morning at CeBIT (Hall 26, Stand F30), the international conference for IT and Telecommunications in Hannover, Germany.
AirStar is Netro's high capacity, point-to-multipoint, carrier-class broadband fixed wireless solution for high frequencies (3.5 to 39 GHz). With the greater capacity and coverage offered by AirStar Release 3, carriers can cover twice the area or provide twice the bandwidth and therefore reduce their capital expenditures to provide service to a given area. Release 3 is also designed to support infrastructure buildout for 3rd Generation (3G) mobile services and interface with devices to better serve multiple tenant unit buildings. AirStar has already been deployed by leading mobile operators for infrastructure backhaul for GSM and with Release 3 is now designed to facilitate a smooth transition to 3G backhaul.
``The need to reduce backhaul costs in mobile wireless networks is a major driver of the fixed wireless business case for communication providers seeking to provide advanced, revenue-generating services,'' said Peter Jarich, director of broadband research for The Strategis Group. ``A key element to the success of these companies will be affordable and high capacity products, like Release 3 of the AirStar System, that can handle the various requirements of mobile wireless networks today and tomorrow.''
The next generation of the AirStar product is backwards compatible with previous versions, providing Netro customers with a means to leverage their existing investments in fixed wireless infrastructure for continued profitability.
``With Release 3, Netro continues to strengthen its cellular infrastructure offering, in addition to the SRTS synchronization feature for GSM backhaul that AirStar already supports,'' said John Perry, senior vice president of marketing at Netro. ``We believe the cellular infrastructure market is an important opportunity for our AirStar product with the initial rollouts of 3G cellular networks. We also believe Release 3 of the AirStar System makes Netro the only company that can offer native ATM transport for 3G backhaul on a point-to-multipoint platform.''
Key System Enhancements
Release 3 of the AirStar System includes significant architectural enhancements and features providing broader support for multiple revenue generating services.
Improved Coverage -- a new radio design offers twice the cell coverage area compared to comparably configured Release 2 radios
More Capacity -- a new radio and additional system enhancements increase channel bandwidth to 28 MHz channels
Optimized for 3G infrastructure -- together with the 28 MHz channel, an Inverse ATM Multiplexing capability and rt-VBR service class on the subscriber unit allow for interconnection with 3G Node Bs
Optimized for Multi Tenant Unit Market -- with rt-VBR service classes and E1 ATM for interconnecting with building DSLAMs
Improved scalability and density -- with better traffic aggregation, to optimize traffic carried into the network from the base station
About Netro Corporation
Netro Corporation (Nasdaq:NTRO - news) is a leading provider of fixed broadband wireless access systems used by telecommunications service providers to deliver voice and high-speed data services to customers worldwide. Netro's vision is to provide breakthrough technology packaged in a carrier-class, practical solution that enables quick service delivery and efficient use of capital. Netro offers a broad range of low and high frequency products for business and residential, access and backhaul infrastructure needs, with a wide set of licensed frequencies for point to multipoint- 1.9 to 39 GHz. The Company's AirStar and Angel products have an impressive track record of performance and stability worldwide.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to timely adopt the Angel product for the international marketplace, achieving revenues from the Angel product in the second half of 2002, and Netro's ability to manufacture and sell the Angel product on a cost-effective basis. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to update any projections contained herein. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Netro's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Contact:
Netro
Haven Bourque, 408/216-1500
havenb@netro-corp.com
or
PR21 for Netro
Rowan Benecke, 415/369-8102
rowan.benecke@pr21.com |
