Field proven NLOS performance creates new opportunities for service providers

CALGARY, Canada - October 9, 2002 - Wi-LAN Inc. (TSE:WIN), a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, delivers broadband wireless products with field proven non-line-of-sight (NLOS) performance across several frequency bands, the company announced today. Wi-LAN products can deliver coverage to over 90% of potential customers, compared to 30% to 50% coverage for conventional wireless solutions. Increased coverage is a crucial metric in the fixed wireless business model, which directly translates into an increased subscriber base, increased revenue, lower installation costs, and lower total cost of customer acquisition.

"Our broadband wireless non-line-of-sight solutions are providing our service provider customers with viable business models that allow them to show early profits," said Nico Roelofsen, Vice-President, Global Sales, Wi-LAN Inc. "Our products overcome non-line-of sight, the single largest obstacle to broadband wireless deployment, allowing our customers to connect more end users to their systems and provide ubiquitous wireless coverage, even in congested urban environments."

Most fixed wireless access (FWA) systems require line-of-sight (LOS) between the base station and the customer premise equipment (CPE), necessitating a direct visual line between the base station and the subscriber. For these systems, 90% service area coverage requires a flat terrain with no physical obstacles such as trees and tall buildings, and a tall tower at the base station site. In typical environments, approximately 50% of potential FWA subscribers cannot receive service because they do not have a line-of-sight to the base station. In more challenging environments, such as large cities, the coverage for most FWA systems may be reduced to as low as 30%.

Wi-LAN provides broadband wireless solutions that overcome line-of-sight issues, even in dense urban environments. They provide easy connectivity to customers that competitors' products cannot reach. And NLOS coverage is available for various licence-exempt and licensed radio frequencies, enabling various types of customers, from small enterprises to large licensed telecommunications service providers, to serve many more customers.

"Wi-LAN's BWS 3500 products have given us a significant advantage toward growing our successful business with large telecommunications carriers in China," said Lok Chow, President of Wi-Comm United Communications (WCU), a major supplier of Wi-LAN products to the Chinese marketplace headquartered in Beijing. " The BWS 3500 products use Wi-LAN's patented W-OFDM technology to resolve the issue of selective frequency fading caused by multi-path interference, ensuring more robust transmission than a typical narrow-band microwave system and enabling non-line-of-sight connections. The benefit is tremendous because a large proportion of our customer connections are expected to be non-line-of-sight."

"I have found Wi-LAN's VIP 110-24 product to be the most appropriate solution for our customers to provide broadband wireless service to rural areas in Oceania," said Waldemar Brodowski, Managing Director of Hermes Technology Limited of Christchurch, New Zealand. "The VINE network architecture of this product allows our customers to overcome non-line-of-sight obstacles economically. They can roll out their networks one customer at a time, going around line-of-sight obstacles, with significantly lower deployment costs than conventional cell-based networks."

Wi-LAN has delivered state-of-the-art FWA products since 1992. BWS, VIP and Ultima3 series products provide exceptional performance for non-line-of-sight connectivity. Their high reliability makes them ideal for critical applications.

About Wi-LAN's Broadband Wireless Non-Line-of-Sight Products
For service providers offering broadband wireless access, the BWS 3000 Series offers superior multipath robustness, improved non-line of sight (NLOS) performance and high spectral efficiency, which translates into more customers per cell-site, maximum usage of valuable licensed spectrum and higher effective data transmission rates. Operating at an unprecedented throughput of up to 192 megabits per second per six-sector cell, and with a transmission range up to an estimated 40 kilometers, Wi-LAN's BWS 3000 Series includes access points and customer premises equipment, and can be used in broadband access applications alone or in combination with wired alternatives. Using a cellular network design, Wi-LAN's solution can easily serve a growing customer base. Network cells can be expanded quickly and cost effectively. By starting small and expanding, network operators experience early profits.

Wi-LAN's Ultima3 series products are designed for broadband wireless access service providers looking to offer high-speed Internet access in the license-exempt 5.8 GHz frequencies. The products can also be used by corporate enterprises to build and extend communications infrastructures. The products support point-to-multipoint, point-to-point, and backhaul applications. They feature Wi-LAN's patented MC-DSSS (Multi-Code - Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) technology, which is designed to support constant service over distance through increased data rates, enhanced reliability and cost-effective performance. MC-DSSS technology also improves security due to built-in data scrambling that prevents unwanted eavesdropping. Wi-LAN's Ultima3 products are designed to be simple to use, install and manage. Enhanced scalability allows a service provider to add new customers.

The VIP (VINE Internet Protocol) 110-24 product incorporates Wi-LAN's patent-pending anypoint-to-multipoint VINE technology, which permits the implementation of long distance, medium subscriber density broadband Internet access networks a node-at-a-time. The VIP 110-24 is easy to install, operates over long distances, and provides economic performance and capacity in the license-exempt 2.4 GHz frequency band.

About Wi-LAN Inc.
Wi-LAN is a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, specializing in high-speed Internet access, LAN/WAN extension and broadband wireless access. Wi-LAN's broadband wireless access products are known worldwide for their high quality and industry-leading technology. Wi-LAN believes its W-OFDM patent is necessary for the implementation of devices using the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g or ETSI BRAN HiperLAN/2 standards as well as the current drafts of the IEEE802.16a and ETSI BRAN HiperMAN proposed standards. Wi-LAN licenses its W-OFDM technology and has executed non-exclusive W-OFDM license agreements with semiconductor companies. Wi-LAN is the Chair Company of the OFDM Forum (www.ofdm-forum.com). Wi-LAN's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WIN." Detailed information on Wi-LAN can be found at www.wi-lan.com.