O'Connor's Purchases Wi-LAN Products for Education and Government Deployments
CALGARY, Canada and Singapore - May 21, 2004 - Wi-LAN Inc. (TSX:WIN), a global provider of broadband wireless communication products and technologies, and O'Connor's Singapore Pte. Ltd. (O'Connor's), a Wi-LAN Channel Partner in S.E. Asia, announced today deployment of Wi-LAN's broadband wireless products at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore and the Riau Island Provincial Government Office, Indonesia. The NIE, a national teacher training institute, is using the products to provide connectivity for trainee teachers to access e-learning and video-based materials. The Riau Island Provincial Government is using the products for Internet, and backhaul for data and Voice-over-IP (VoIP). Wi-LAN's VIP 110-24 and Ultima3 series are being deployed.
"We selected Wi-LAN products for their superior engineering design and ability to provide reliable and sustainable broadband access exceeding six megabits per second of committed data rate per link" said Jamey Ma, Regional Manager, SE Asia Sales at O'Connor's. "Also, we have found the VIP 110-24's branching feature very valuable in overcoming non-line-of-sight problems in our deployments."
"The NIE is the sole teacher training institute in Singapore, with a faculty of 360 academic staff members serving a student population of approximately 10,000 full and part-time students." said Mr. Tan Hoon Chiang, Deputy Divisional Director, Academic Computing & Information Service at NIE. "Wi-LAN's VIP 110-24 products will provide enough bandwidth for the high-speed video and data link that we need on our campus"
"Riau is a province of more than 3,000 islands with 2.5 million citizens located on the eastern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia," said Mr. Harianto Novi, Project Director, Riau Island Provincial Government Office. "We needed a robust long-range broadband wireless solution to establish broadband communications to our many branch offices and departments. "Wi-LAN's Ultima 3 series products have served us very well in this capacity, and we expect to deploy many more units as we continue to expand our network."
"Wi-LAN's products are serving an increasing demand for high speed broadband wireless infrastructure which can be rapidly deployed with ease to buildings and offices, particularly in situations where laying telecommunications wire or fiber cable is not an option," said Kia K. Chong, Regional Director, Asia Pacific & Japan at Wi-LAN. "The NIE and the Riau Island Provincial Government deployments are two examples of where Wi-LAN's broadband wireless solutions can provide secure, reliable, high speed connectivity in situations where laying cables is not an economic option."
Available in license-exempt and licensed frequency bands, Wi-LAN's broadband wireless access products are certified for deployment in most countries worldwide. Wi-LAN products are designed for commercial outdoor broadband wireless networks and are ideal for high-density non-line-of-sight (NLOS) point-to-multipoint configurations, medium-density ad-hoc networks, and long-distance point-to-point backhaul applications.
"The VIP 110-24 and Ultima3 products with Wi-LAN's patented VINE and MC-DSSS technologies allow low cost implementations and extended coverage of large geographic areas from which customers can see an immediate return on investment," said Nico Roelofsen, Vice President, Global Sales, Wi-LAN Inc. "Interested parties are invited to visit Wi-LAN at the CommunicAsia 2004 Summit, June 15-18 in Singapore, where we will be exhibiting our products at the Canadian Government Pavilion in Hall 5."
Customers who deploy Wi-LAN's LIBRA product line are protected by Wi-LAN's CONTINUITY PROGRAMTM. The core of the CONTINUITY PROGRAM is Wi-LAN's commitment that any current LIBRA Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) will operate side by side, in the same network, the same cell and even the same sector with future WiMAX Certified CPE's. The CONTINUITY PROGRAM will minimize network and revenue disruption and protect customers' investment in current Libra technology when networks are transitioned to WiMAX compliant equipment. The CONTINUITY PROGRAM offers Wi-LAN customers a solid migration path to Wi-LAN's Wi-MAX Certified systems, which are expected to be available in the first half of 2005.
About O'Connor's Singapore Pte. Ltd.
O'Connor's is a leading systems integrator and distributor in Southeast Asia and Wi-LAN Regional Channel Partner. O'Connor's is a major provider of turnkey installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of telecommunication systems, satellite communications, data and voice communications, wireless LAN/MAN/WAN and Fixed wireless, Direct-To-Home (DTH) and MCPC, broadband IP and multiservices, secured enterprise networks, fiber optics, lightning protection, broadcasting & multimedia, lighting & staging systems, medical technologies, scientific and analytical, card access, and security and surveillance equipment. More information can be found at www.oconnor.com.sg.
About Wi-LAN Inc.
Wi-LAN is a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, offering businesses, including telecom service providers, and government enterprises effective, economic and secure wireless high-speed communications solutions. Wi-LAN specializes in high-speed Internet access, data network extension, and wireless data and telephony backhaul, utilizing its high quality products and industry-leading technologies. Wi-LAN believes its W-OFDM patents are necessary for the implementation of devices using the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN Standard * and the ETSI BRAN HiperMAN* standard (the WiMAX* standards), the IEEE standards 802.11a and 802.11g (the 2nd generation Wi-Fi* standards), and the ETSI BRAN HiperLAN/2* standard. 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) and an active member of the WiMAX* Forum (www.wimaxforum.org). 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.wilan.com.
Forward Looking Information
Certain statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, may include forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties. These may include, without limitation, statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties related to all aspects of the wireless 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 wireless communications, the Company's ability to attract and retain 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.
* All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.
For more information please contact:
Wi-LAN Inc.
Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Ken Wetherell
Ph: (403) 207-6329
E-mail: kwetherell@wi-lan.com
O'Connor's Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Mr. Jamey Ma
Tel: +(65) 6473-7944
DID: +(65) 6470-4683
E-mail: ma.jamey@oconnor.com.sg
To place an order please contact:
Wi-LAN Inc.
Regional Director - Asia Pacific & Japan Sales
Mr. Kia K. Chong
Ph: +65-6242-2577
Fax: +65-6242-7538
E-mail: kchong@wi-lan.com
Wi-LAN Inc.
Global Sales
Ph: (403) 273-9133
Toll-free: (800) 258-6876
Fax: (403) 273-5100
E-mail: info@wi-lan.com