Adaptive Broadband Establishes Key Research Agreement With University of Kansas; Modeling Performance of New High-Speed Internet Access System

Business Wire, Nov 3, 1998

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1998--CALIFORNIA MICROWAVE, INC. (Nasdaq National Market: CMIC) announced today that its Adaptive Broadband Limited subsidiary signed an agreement with the University of Kansas (KU) to fund independent research into the performance of AB-Access, Adaptive's forthcoming 25Mbps wireless Internet access system.

KU to Measure AB-Access Field Performance

AB-Access uses the 5GHz U-NII (Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure) band, recently made available by the FCC for new services, and incorporates newly developed technology designed to maximize real world performance in this unlicensed band. KU will use its expertise to measure performance in the field and to fine-tune system parameters for maximum reliability and throughput. "Establishing the right research alliances is critical to our success", commented Dr. Daniel L. Scharre, California Microwave's Chief Technology Officer and Adaptive's Chief Executive Officer. "Kansas University impressed us with its understanding of propagation issues and its research into radio networks. We're confident that they can make a very positive contribution to our final product."

KU will carry out the research in its Information and Telecommunication Technology Center, on its Lawrence campus just outside Kansas City. "We've been following Adaptive's work for some time," explained Professor Joseph B. Evans, who will lead the research, "and it's our policy to work with technology leaders such as Adaptive as well as network operators who need to ensure that the technology performs in the field."

Low-cost Wireless Data Connections Comparable to Wired Speeds

AB-Access is a wireless broadband technology, which offers unprecedented data rates over a point-to-multipoint radio link: 25Mbps operating in the 5GHz unlicensed frequency band. For the first time, low-cost wireless connections will be available at speeds comparable to wired networks. High-speed connectivity at low-cost is made possible by Adaptive's unique combination of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and packet-on-demand bandwidth management, based on asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology.

Adaptive's initial products target Internet service providers, competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and other alternate carriers, who will provide service to small and medium businesses that do not have access to broadband services. Its products are particularly applicable to markets where wired infrastructure does not exist or where competitive markets are developing. Adaptive is in the final stages of product development and several US telecommunications service providers are evaluating prototypes. Launch of the first products is scheduled for early 1999.

California Microwave, Inc. (http://www.calmike.com) is a leading U.S. supplier of satellite earth station and microwave radio infrastructure products and information and collection systems. Its focus is on transmission of high-speed data, especially for Internet traffic, via satellite and terrestrial wireless communications. More information on its Adaptive Broadband subsidiary can be found at www.adaptivebroadband.com.