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PRESS RELEASE: Airspan Announces First Mobile WiMAX Device
HANNOVER, GERMANY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 03/09/06 --
Airspan Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRN), a leading worldwide provider of WiMAX and WiFi based broadband wireless access networks, and carrier class Voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) solutions, today announced support for Mobile WiMAX on its AS.MAX WiMAX product line and the first details of its revolutionary Mobile WiMAX USB device, called the "16eUSB".

"The 16eUSB is the first Mobile WiMAX USB device. It is designed to be fully compatible with the IEEE's 802.16e-2005 standard and the WiMAX Forum Mobile WIMAX System Profile, and to support the Profile's intelligence with MIMO ("multiple-input multiple-output"), Beam-forming smart antennas, Idle and Sleep modes and Handover. As a quad-band device that will operate in all key WiMAX frequency bands, including 2.3-2.4 GHz, 2.5-2.7 GHz, 3.3-3.7 GHz, and the 4.9-5.4 GHz bands, it will allow a user to have access to WiMAX networks virtually anywhere in the world," said Eric Stonestrom, President and CEO of Airspan Networks.

Airspan also announced support for Mobile WiMAX on AS.MAX, its class-leading WiMAX product line. Airspan's high-end AS.MAX Base Stations, known as HiperMAX and MicroMAX-SDR, will require a "software only" upgrade to enable them to support Mobile WiMAX. With the upgrade, the base stations will simultaneously support both 256 OFDM Fixed CPEs and SOFDMA Mobile WiMAX laptop cards, handsets and USB devices.

Paul Senior, Airspan's Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, commented: "Operators combining the 16eUSB with a high performance, mobile-enhanced base station like HiperMAX will deliver a completely new broadband wireless experience for their users. When MIMO and Beam-forming antennas are used with a device such as the 16eUSB that properly supports the full Mobile WiMAX specification, users' experiences are elevated to a new level. Always-on, any-place access to the internet will change the way in which people work, relax and play."

Sunao Takatori, President and CEO of Yozan Inc., observed: "We are proud tobe a sponsor of the development of Airspan's 16eUSB Mobile WiMAX device. It will enable Yozan to deliver our vision of a truly holistic communication service, which binds together wireline and wireless infrastructures and provides users with global access to the Internet, anywhere and anytime."
About Airspan Networks Inc. Airspan Networks provides fixed and wireless voice and data systems and solutions, including Voice Over IP (VoIP). Its wireless products serve operators around the world in both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands between 700 MHz and 6 GHz, including both PCS and 3.5GHz international bands. Airspan has a strong wireless product roadmap that includes offerings compliant with the 802.11 a/b/g and the WiMAX 802.16-2004 standard, including software upgradeability to Mobile WiMAX (the 802.16e-2005 standard). Airspan is on the Board and is a foundermember of the WiMAX Forum and a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Company has deployments with more than 350 operators in more than 100 countries. Airspan's wireless systems are based on radio technology that delivers excellent area coverage, high security and resistance to fading. These systems can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, providing an attractive alternative to traditional wired communications networks. Airspan's new AS.Tone VoIP system is a carrier class, turnkey solution that provides carriers with Class 4, Class 5 and IP-Centrex solutions and has a Softswitch and Gateways supporting SIP/H323 and SIP. AS.Tone's design provides customers; carriers, next-generation telcos, cellular providers and ITSP with a wide range of solutions with the best price/performance system for IP telephony. Airspan also offers radio planning, network installation, integration, training and support services to facilitate the deployment and operation of its systems. Airspan is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with its main operations center in Uxbridge, United Kingdom. More information on Airspan can be found at http://www.airspan.com About Yozan Inc. Yozan is a telecom service operator in Tokyo, Japan, offering WiMAX-based wireless broadband and multicasting services. Yozan is the first operator in Japan to launch WiMAX services as of December 2005, amidst a growing trend in the telecom sector of leading companies advancing WiMAX initiatives.
The company currently provides 2 types of WiMAX services -- WiMAX Direct for corporate users demanding high-quality broadband services; and BitStand for individual subscribers. The company is continuing its aggressive network deployment to provide comprehensive service area coverage throughout the 23 wards of Tokyo -- with the goal to become the nation's largest wireless broadband service operator. In addition, Yozan offers Child Safety Monitoring services over the Vodafone network (specifically to local municipal government-clients) and AirBit Key services utilizing Yozan's own paging network. Future plans include service offerings based on an integration of PLC (Power Line Communications) and WiMAX, uponderegulation of rules scheduled in Autumn 2006; and 802.16e mobile WiMAX-based services scheduled for 2007. The company is focused on expanding its coverage area to contribute to a ubiquitous telecommunications environment.
More information on Yozan can be found at http://www.yozan.co.jp
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "will," "would" and similar expressions or negative variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-lookingstatements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Investors and others are therefore cautioned that a variety of factors, including certain risks, may affect our business and cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The Company is also subject to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004. You should read those factorsas being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever theyappear in this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-09-06 1010ET