[Advanced Radio Telecom Selects Wireless Facilities, Inc. to Provide Network Deployment Services]
WFI's Full-Service Support to Speed ART's 40-Market National Build Out
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 1, 1999--Advanced Radio Telecom Corp. (NASDAQ:ARTT), a premier broadband wireless access provider, today announced that it has signed a letter of intent for Wireless Facilities, Inc. (WFI) to provide comprehensive network deployment services in support of ART's build out of high-speed, metropolitan area, fixed wireless Internet Protocol (IP) networks nationwide.
WFI will support ART's planned network in 40 markets across the United States with full-service network development and deployment services including overall program management, selected site acquisition services, fixed network engineering and construction, geographic information systems, radio frequency (RF) engineering, and network maintenance. WFI also will handle end user installation and testing for ART.
"With our aggressive market rollout plan over the next few years, outsourcing is a key factor to a successful rapid deployment," said Henry C. (Harry) Hirsch, chairman & CEO of ART. "WFI's tremendous experience in high quality design, implementation and maintenance of wireless telecommunications networks -- particularly broadband wireless networks -- will allow us to expedite our market deployment schedule and reduce overall costs."
ART recently announced that Qwest Communications International Inc. (NASDAQ:QWST), and a group of high-tech investment funds -- syndicate leader Oak Investment Partners, MeriTech Capital Partners, Advent International, Accel Partners, Brentwood Venture Capital, Worldview Technology Partners, Bessemer Venture Capital, Adams Capital Management -- have signed a definitive agreement for a $251 million equity investment that will expedite the deployment of ART's high-speed wireless network.
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to play such a key role in ART's overall long term deployment and operational plan," said Masood Tayebi, president of WFI. "We are very high on the emerging broadband wireless access market, and we believe that ART has an exciting fresh approach to serving that market. Combine that with the Qwest relationship, and we believe that to be a formidable combination."
About ART
Advanced Radio Telecom, Corp., headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., is a provider of broadband wireless access to businesses at speeds up to 100Mbps. ART currently owns and operates metropolitan area networks in Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Phoenix with plans to expand to 40 of the top 50 U.S. markets in the next few years. ART has a nationwide footprint of 38GHz spectrum licenses in the United States, and owns 26GHz and/or 38GHz spectrum licenses in the United Kingdom and several Scandinavian countries. For more information, please visit ART's web site at art-net.net.
About WFI
Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Wireless Facilities, Inc. (http://www.wfinet.com) is a global leader in telecommunications outsourcing. The company provides business and strategic consulting, design, deployment and maintenance services for wireless, cable and fiber optic telecommunications networks. Founded in 1994, WFI has grown to more than 500 employees working in 12 countries. WFI offers services at all stages of network deployment and operation: planning and site acquisition, microwave relocation, fixed network engineering and construction, program management and radio frequency (RF) engineering. WFI clients include many of the world's largest wireless carriers and telecom equipment suppliers. |
