To: IMATR8R2 who wrote (5104 ) 4/13/1998 2:48:00 PM From: MangoBoy Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 12468
[WinStar Initiates First Fully Integrated Fixed Wireless Multipoint Metropolitan Area Network] NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--APRIL 13, 1998 Multi-Hub/ATM-Based Configuration Demonstrates Increased Functionality and Efficiency of Point-to-Multipoint Architecture WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (NASDAQ WCII) announced today that it has activated a full-duplex, ATM-based, point-to-multipoint (PMP) broadband, fixed wireless trial network carrying voice, data and video services in Washington, D.C. The network incorporates two hub sites, expanding to three shortly, and is providing high speed telecommunications services over multiple sectors to four end-user buildings. Traffic is being routed through an ATM over-the-air interface and integrated with WinStar's ATM metropolitan area backbone network and its Class 5 local switched network. The PMP network is functioning at an extremely high level of efficiency and reliability. William J. Rouhana, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WinStar, said that "the network confirms the breadth and depth of the role WinStar's Wireless FiberSM broadband local networks will play in bringing voice, data and video services to the market. We believe this is the first time these capabilities have been integrated into an actual commercial enterprise environment. The results of our deployment firmly establish WinStar's technical leadership in this arena." WinStar's Washington D.C. network is demonstrating all the features of a fully networked PMP infrastructure, including bi-directional communications on a bandwidth-on-demand basis. The network offers unprecedented versatility, including enhanced voice, data, video conferencing, LAN-LAN interconnections, file transfer, MPEG-2 video, distance learning, email and high speed internet access. The network will provide multiple channels to each end user building, and each channel will provide data rates of up to 155 megabits per second. This network design greatly increases the efficiency with which WinStar utilizes its spectrum. "Our PMP network carries with it very significant reductions in capital costs enabling WinStar to extend our network to many more customers, expanding our addressable market to include those customers located in buildings as small as 20,000 square feet, and some portion of the residential market. The combination of the reduced cost and the relative ease of installation will allow the integration of voice, data and video communications services onto one network allowing an affordable, high speed alternative to the higher cost, legacy systems of the existing monopoly carriers" said Rouhana. "This confirms our ability to initially deploy our multipoint network in the second half of 1998, and moves us toward full national implementation of this network over the course of 1999 and beyond."