New Lightweight, Weatherproof, Single Unit Product Features Improved Security, Full or Half Duplex Support, Full Redundancy, E1/T1 Support and Tiered Service Management
CALGARY, Canada - November 13, 2002 - Wi-LAN Inc. (TSE:WIN), a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, today launched LIBRA, the latest in its series of Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Fixed Wireless Access products. LIBRA, based on Wi-LAN's patented W-OFDM (Wide-band Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) technology, provides NLOS capability that has been proven in various commercial networks, increasing fixed wireless access subscriber coverage from conventional levels of 50% or less to levels that can exceed 90%. LIBRA's flexible architecture supports full or half duplex operation, is fully redundant, supports T1 and E1 voice networks, and has tiered service management and user-friendly network management, all in an easy to install, weatherproof, single unit design.
"The LIBRA product series is the third generation of our highly reliable, field-proven, Non-Line-of-Sight commercial W-OFDM products, which have already been deployed in networks in more than 20 countries, and demand for our W-OFDM products is building," said Dr. Hatim Zaghloul, Chairman, President and CEO, Wi-LAN Inc. "The end-result of ten years of field-proven W-OFDM technology and experience, LIBRA has many value-added features, is seamlessly compatible with Wi-LAN's prior generation of BWS products, and is packaged in a highly integrated and compact single-unit form factor."
LIBRA is certified for use in the majority of telecommunications markets where 3.5 GHz licensed spectrum is available, having received the CE Mark indicating the product conforms to the standards of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Certifications for other relevant jurisdictions are expected in due course. LIBRA supports both point-to-multipoint and point-to-point applications, and can be configured with either an integrated antenna or an external antenna, making it more flexible and scalable. Improved security is built in through Wi-LAN's proprietary W-OFDM technology, user-configurable data scrambling and formatting, individual identification codes, VLAN tagging and IP filtering, making a LIBRA network one of the most robust solutions available in the market today. Installation and network setup is greatly simplified, with quick start menus and PDA support eliminating the need for a laptop computer. LIBRA also offers tiered service management through CIR/MBR (Committed Information Rate / Maximum Burst Rate). The lightweight single unit design eliminates the need for expensive accessories and coaxial cable, is faster and less expensive to install, and can be mounted indoors or outdoors without the need for any climate control.
"We continue to be impressed by the unprecedented capabilities of Wi-LAN's BWS products," said Niklas Lindhe, Business Development - New Markets of Tele2 AB, a major pan-European telecommunications company. "The OFDM technology solves many of the practical problems associated with Non-Line-of-Sight installations, and the arrival of the new LIBRA series is expected to allow us to accelerate our network roll-outs."
The current hardware is capable of supporting several generations of enhancement to the system software. Features such as dynamic modulation, dynamic power control, and additional network management features are being made available, as the market requires, via over-the-air software upgrades. Also, current products will have a migration path to future products based on the emerging IEEE 802.16a (North America) and ETSI BRAN HyperMAN (European and international) standards.
The LIBRA Series, which includes LIBRA 3000, is the new generation of W-OFDM products which succeeds the BWS 3000 Series. LIBRA is offered in 3.5 MHz, 7 MHz and 14 MHz channel widths, in various frequencies covering the worldwide 3.5 GHz licensed spectrum. The series meets the needs of service providers who have obtained spectrum licenses from government licensing bodies in more than 40 countries worldwide. LIBRA products for the 5.8 GHz license-exempt frequencies are planned. For service providers offering broadband wireless access, Wi-LAN's W-OFDM products offer 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 W-OFDM products include 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.
Orders are being accepted today for Wi-LAN's LIBRA W-OFDM products. To place an order, or for more information on the LIBRA products, please call Wi-LAN at +1 (403) 273-9133, or email info@wi-lan.com.
The W-OFDM Advantage
W-OFDM is a variation of OFDM that further improves its characteristics. The signal reception is corrected for distortions, allowing greater transmission speeds, and the signal is processed to maximize the range and multipath resistance. W-OFDM allows lower-power, multipoint radio frequency (RF) networks to be implemented, minimizing interference with adjacent networks.
W-OFDM effectively permits several independent channels to operate within the same frequency band, allowing multipoint networks and point-to-point backbone systems to be overlaid on one another. Less disruption of adjacent users and insensitivity to external noise means that high-speed multipoint data networks can be simply and rapidly deployed. These systems are tolerant of changes in the RF environment, limiting maintenance requirements, and the systems can be easily and economically expanded to meet the service provider's growing business.
About Wi-LAN Inc.
Wi-LAN is a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, specializing in products for Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMAN) supporting both broadband data and voice. 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.
Forward Looking Information
Certain statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties. These can include, without limitation, statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties related to all aspects of the wireless data communications industry. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not restricted to, continued increased demand for the Company's products, the Company's ability to maintain its technological leadership in the field of high-speed data communications, the Company's ability to attract and maintain key employees, the enforceability of the Company's patents, and the availability of key components.
These uncertainties may cause actual results to differ from information contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.
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