BellSouth Cellular Executive Leaves to Join Telecom Outsourcing Leader WFI; ``Outsourcing Wireless Network Management and Operations is the Future of the Telecom Industry''

Business Wire, May 10, 1999

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 1999--

Scott Fox, the chief technology officer at BellSouth Cellular Corporation, has left to join San Diego-based Wireless Facilities, Inc., or WFI, a fast-growing, international leader in the design and deployment of wireless networks for telecommunications carriers.

Fox joins WFI today as president of its newly created Network Management Group to grow WFI's business in the ongoing management and maintenance of clients' wireless networks.

"Outsourcing wireless network management and operations is rapidly becoming the future of the telecommunications industry, and WFI is way out in front of that trend," Fox said. "They're already well established as the outsourcing experts in design and deployment. Now I'm joining WFI to take on the exciting challenge of leading the next wave - moving telecom providers beyond outsourcing just the initial stages of design and deployment to outsourcing the ongoing network management, operations, and maintenance of their wireless networks. And WFI is, without question, the most qualified and best positioned to provide these services."

WFI president and co-founder Masood Tayebi estimates the potential market for operation and maintenance outsourcing at $15 billion annually worldwide.

"The fact that someone of Scott's caliber would come from a top-tier carrier to join us in the outsourcing side of the business," Tayebi said, "is further confirmation that industry leaders recognize that the future of wireless network management is, indeed, in outsourcing, as it has become in the areas of design and deployment."

As the wireless telephony market matures and becomes more competitive, telecom carriers from AT&T Wireless to local cellular and PCS providers increasingly have outsourced the deployment and expansion of their wireless network infrastructure to companies such as WFI.

Carriers find that outsourcing of these technical functions is more cost-effective and enables them to focus more of their resources on marketing, customer service and other core activities in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

"We needed an industry leader who understands the latest technology and how to apply it most effectively and efficiently to run wireless communication networks," Tayebi said. "Our clients will benefit from Scott's tremendous track record in designing, building, and operating wireless networks as well as his proven leadership in the industry."

At BellSouth, Fox was vice president for technology and strategic planning as well as chief technology officer. He oversaw all advanced technology aspects of the company's domestic PCS and cellular businesses as well as product and services development, industry technical standards, third generation evolution (3G), managing intellectual property, and analysis of wireless investment opportunities. Prior to that, Fox managed BellSouth's domestic PCS properties and was responsible for the design, construction, launch and ongoing operations of some of the first PCS markets in the country.

Before joining BellSouth, Fox served in a broad variety of senior management positions within the wireless industry, including vice president for wireless engineering at MCI; director of engineering for McCaw Cellular in the New York-New Jersey market; director of engineering and operations for Mobilmedia; and chief engineer for Radio Telephone Company.

Fox serves on a variety of industry boards and standards groups. He is chair of the GSM North America Chief Technology Officers, the GSM Alliance Chief Technology Officers, the Nortel Global GSM Users Group and the PCIA Microwave Relocation Cost-recovery Clearinghouse Board of Directors. He is a member of the CTIA Chief Technology Officer Caucus, the Executive Committee of the GSM Association and the Advisory Committee of Wireless Business and Technology Magazine. Fox earned a bachelor of science in electrical engineering with a specialization in Digital Communications Theory from the University of Florida.

Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Wireless Facilities, Inc. (www.wfinet.com) is the global leader in telecommunications outsourcing. The company provides design, deployment and maintenance services for wireless, cable and fiber optic telecommunications networks. Founded in 1994, WFI has grown to more than 400 employees working in 12 countries. WFI offers services at all stages of network deployment and operation: planning and site acquisition, microwave relocation, fixed network engineering and construction, program management and radio frequency (RF) engineering. WFI clients include many of the largest wireless carriers and telecom equipment suppliers.