News Release Details

Wi-LAN PRODUCT UPDATE: W-OFDM BASED BWS 3000 SERIES OFFERS DIFFERENTIATED SERVICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

04/18/2002

Software Upgrade Enables Tiered Services and More Effective Network Management

(CALGARY, Canada - April 18, 2002) - Wi-LAN Inc. (TSE:WIN), a global innovator of high-speed wireless data/Internet communications, announced today that its market-leading BWS 3000 Series products, based on its patented W-OFDM (Wide-band Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) technology, now incorporate software that enables service providers to offer a range of tiered services to their customers and manage their networks more effectively. The BWS 3000 Series products now offer Committed Information Rate (CIR) and Maximum Burst Rate (MBR) to allow service providers to differentiate services by customer performance needs and price points.

"The differentiated customer access that this software upgrade provides enables service providers to deliver various levels of service at various prices to subscribers, using their existing network infrastructure," said Dr. Hatim Zaghloul, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wi-LAN Inc. "All previously installed BWS 3000 units can be quickly and easily upgraded with this software release through an over the air download, and it is available today."

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.

The current hardware is capable of supporting several generations of enhancement to the system software. Features such as quality of service, voice-over-IP, video services 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 BWS 3000 Series, which includes the previously announced BWS 3500, 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.

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 innovator in the field of high-speed wireless data communications, specializing in high-speed Internet access, LAN/WAN extension and broadband wireless access. Wi-LAN is the Chair Company of the OFDM Forum (www.ofdm-forum.com). 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. Wi-LAN's products are known worldwide for their high quality and industry-leading technology. 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.

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