Cats-Net Chooses IPWireless-Based Axity3G Broadband for Tanzania Deployment

Initial Deployment Will Cover Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania’s Most Populous State

LAWRENCE, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A. June 2, 2004 – Axcera, a leading manufacturer and integrator of best-of-breed technology for the broadband wireless access industry, today announced that it will supply Cats-Net, the pioneers of Information Technology in Tanzania, with IPWireless™-based non-line-of-site broadband wireless access systems through its business partner FastComm.

Cats-Net has been providing traditional broadband wireless and cable Internet connectivity to many locations throughout Tanzania, but decided to deploy a non-line-of-sight wireless service in order to overcome the limitations of the cable and traditional fixed wireless networks.

In considering the available solutions, Cats-Net examined various technologies and found the high data rates, non-line-of-sight operation, simple user installation and true mobility of IPWireless-based Axity3G™ Broadband to be the best fit to its requirements. Axity3G’s superior network management capabilities further solidified Cats-Net’s decision.

Cats-Net’s initial deployment will cover Dar-es-Salaam, the most populous state and the business hub of Tanzania, using the 1.9 GHz frequency band.

According to Mr. Akber Hameer, CEO and managing director, Cats Group, “the service will provide speeds rivaling those of DSL and cable modems, while offering full mobility, non-line-of-sight operation and simple user installation, thereby liberating standard wireless and cable users from the problems and restrictions of a conventional connection.”

The planned service offering, christened “Simply Wireless”, will be on an unlimited usage fixed-bandwidth basis and available at various data rates, ranging from 64Kbps to 512Kbps.

“Cats-Net’s vision is to bring efficient and cost-effective Internet solutions within the reach of all Tanzanians, irrespective of their location,” said David Neff, president and chief executive officer of Axcera. “Axity3G will bring this goal one step closer to reality, and we are excited to be an integral part of this effort.”

With Axity3G, coverage is achieved through an air interface, significantly minimizing deployment time and installation cost when compared to copper or fiber based systems, while at the same time offering true mobility. The plug-and-play capability of the pocket-sized modem allows simple user installation, minimizing or eliminating the need for costly and time consuming truck rolls. The mobile broadband solution is based on UMTS TDD, the part of the 3GPP family of standards that is optimized for high-speed data transmission.

About Axcera:
Axcera (www.axcera.com) is a premier provider of equipment and systems for the television broadcast and broadband wireless/MMDS industries. Carrying on the tradition of offering the best products and services for more than 20 years, the company has earned its reputation as a high-quality manufacturer and integrator focused on meeting customers’ needs. Today Axcera provides the most complete line of television transmitter systems available from any manufacturer, as well as end-to-end broadband wireless/MMDS solutions, including complete network planning, design and integration services.

About Cats-Net
Cats-Net (www.cats-net.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cats Tanzania Limited, the pioneers of Information Technology in Tanzania. Cats-Net started it operations in 1997 and was registered as an Independent company in 1999. The Experience and Resources accumulated by the parent company enabled Cats-Net to be recognized as the best ISP in terms of Customer Service & Solutions.

About FastComm
Fastcomm (www.fastcomm.co.za) is a provider of broadband wireless equipment to the African market. The company founders bring with them over 50 years of combined experience in the telecommunication industry. With the upcoming deployments of wireless broadband access, FastComm is poised to bring information access and high-speed data services to under-served areas throughout Africa.

About IPWireless
IPWireless (www.ipwireless.com) offers an advanced standards-based broadband wireless technology that will drastically improve the way people around the world connect and communicate at home, at the office, or on the road. With a full range of commercial network solutions and devices, IPWireless allows operators to offer a spectrum of fixed, portable, or completely mobile wireless services with unmatched economics and broadband performance. IPWireless has quickly established itself as a leader in the market, with commercial deployments in service for more than a year, trials with ten of the top twenty global wireless operators, and strategic partnerships and relationships with industry leading companies.

Contact

Axcera
Rich Schwartz, Director, Marketing and Product Mgt.
+1-724-873-8100 ext. 263
rschwartz@axcera.com

FastComm
Goltz Wessmann, Director
+27-12-346-6077
gw@fastcomm.co.za

Cats-Net
Mrs. Scholastica Ponera, Director of Publicity and Public Relations - Cats Group
+ 255-22-211-2631
scolap@cats-net.com

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