News
Issue #2003 - 02 (January 2003)
(Updated Jan. 16, 2003)

INFRASTRUCTURE, PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Clearwire Launches Next-generation Wireless Broadband Service in Jacksonville, Florida

DALLAS-Jan. 7, 2003-Clearwire Technologies announced today the deployment of next-generation wireless broadband service in Jacksonville, Florida - the largest U.S. commercial launch of its kind. Clearwire is using technology from wireless broadband pioneer IPWireless to offer the simplest and most
convenient high-speed Internet access to businesses and residents of Jacksonville. Clearwire will fill a critical need in the market by providing powerful, reliable, and affordable wireless, high-speed Internet service to businesses and consumers in many areas of Jacksonville where DSL and cable service are not available. The magnitude of this major market launch demonstrates Clearwire's emergence as an innovator and leading provider of next-generation broadband services.

"This is a major step forward for the broadband industry in the United States," said Claudia Bacco, president of TeleChoice. "For broadband wireless to emerge as a legitimate competitor to DSL and cable, it has to go where these wired technologies cannot in terms of coverage and convenience for businesses and consumers. With Clearwire's launch, many businesses and consumers that have been broadband-deprived will now have an option available to them. Those users that have been waiting for a portable, and eventually a mobile, broadband connection that they can take with them will also have a solution available to them via broadband wireless."

"We are proud to launch the nation's largest licensed wireless broadband network and look forward to providing Jacksonville businesses and residents with the ultimate broadband experience," said Leo Cyr, president and COO, Clearwire Technologies. "Our research shows that up to 20 percent of residential customers in Jacksonville have no access to high-speed Internet, and up to 50 percent of local businesses cannot access DSL. Thanks to cutting-edge technology from IPWireless, Clearwire will not only connect users to the Internet, but also allow them to take that connection with them around our coverage area in Jacksonville - at home, in the office, or around town. That kind of flexibility offers a whole new level of service and convenience that people want and need."

This announcement culminates a year of foundation building by Clearwire that included securing access to one of the largest 2.5 GHz spectrum positions in the country, implementing a world-class technical support organization and order management system, and completing extensive lab and field trials with
a number of equipment vendors to determine the most efficient and cost-effective network infrastructure available for deployment. Clearwire selected IPWireless as its vendor of choice because its UMTS standards-based technology offers several key advantages, including a no-hassle installation, a non-line-of-sight connection, and a broadband modem that is small, attractive, and battery-powered, yet robust enough to run a local area network of multiple computers either in homes or offices.

Clearwire's Jacksonville system will utilize FCC-licensed spectrum in the 2.5 GHz Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) band, which is licensed to nonprofit educational entities and institutions. Access to this spectrum has been provided under lease agreements with the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) and the Duval County public school system."We are very excited to be a part of this launch," said Jose Luis Rodriguez, president of HITN. "We look forward to demonstrating
and implementing new and innovative educational applications utilizing portable broadband services in Jacksonville."

Over the next several years, Clearwire plans to expand its broadband service to additional cities. 

About Clearwire Technologies
Clearwire Technologies provides wireless high-speed Internet and data services to business and residential customers. Through a relationship with the ITFS Spectrum Development Alliance, Clearwire has access to one of the largest licensed 2.5 GHz wireless footprints in the United States.

About IPWireless
IPWireless, Inc. offers standards-based broadband wireless technology solution that enables service providers to offer true high-speed mobile wireless Internet access to consumer and business markets. The IPWireless solution is in commercial deployment in several installations around the world that will deliver two-way data transmission speeds of up to 9 Mbps in competition with DSL or cable modems.  The company, backed by over $150 million in funding from leading venture capital firms, is headquartered in San Bruno, California, with R&D and sales facilities based in the U.K. 

For more information, visit http://www.Clearwire.com and http://www.ipwireless.com.

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: Wireless Broadband has started showing traction. We expect this trend to continue. See our forecast for 2003.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of Securities Exchange act of 1934 in USA. Similar provisions exist in other countries. There is no assurance that the stipulated plans of vendors will be implemented. MobileInfo does not warrant the authenticity of the information. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.