Aperto Networks Launches Stackable Single-Sector Broadband Wireless Base Station

Business Wire, May 24, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

WCA 2004

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2004

Pay-as-you-grow pricing of PacketWave(R) 760 saves up to 50% in

initial deployments

Aperto Networks, a leading 802.16 class broadband wireless access (BWA) systems provider, announced today that it has expanded its PacketWave(R) family to include a new base station called the PacketWave 760 (PW 760). This is the first stackable single-sector BWA base station to provide comprehensive QoS with intelligent classification of traffic and dynamic per-subscriber link optimization. The unit is packaged in a modular, pay-as-you-grow, single-sector Access Point form factor for the unlicensed and licensed 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.

The PW 760 is based on the same architecture as the highly scalable, field-proven PacketWave 1000 (PW 1000). It has the same core functionalities, and offers a highly modular configuration with cost-effective pricing options. "Subscriber-tiered" pricing makes the PW 760 even more attractive for initial deployments, as providers don't pay for ports or stackable modules until they have the traffic and critical mass of subscribers to cost-justify the additional infrastructure investment.

"The PacketWave 760 is a highly cost-effective way for us to expand our service reach into low-density areas", explained Anthony S. Adams, CEO of Egation Communications, a wireless service provider growing its footprint in the San Francisco Bay Area. "It provides us with the perfect combination to augment existing service and niche areas. Because the PW 760 uses all the same set-up, management administration processes, and CPE equipment as the PW 1000, it is very easy for us to deploy both models in our network as our customer base grows."

"In a small 1 RU footprint, the stackable PW 760 can be quickly and easily integrated into a network and remotely managed from our customers' central network operations centers," said Alan Menezes, vice president of marketing for Aperto Networks. "Service providers can remotely manage their base station capacity utilization and pre-plan for subscriber capacity on a just-in-time basis. And with realistic growth in subscriber volumes, they can realize payback on the unit in less than 6 months."

The newest element in Aperto's integrated family of products, the PW 760 performs as a high-capacity Access Point that may be backhauled to a central site using PacketWave 600 Series point-to-point links or function as a cell-within-a-sector of a PacketWave 1000.

Aperto's PacketWave system provides a single coherent platform for delivering converged data, voice, and video services over an IP network. The IP-based system design allows service providers to develop end-to-end applications, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and web hosting, without the complexity of intervening transport protocols. PacketWave fits seamlessly into the service provider's overall network architecture without altering the existing routing and server infrastructure.

The PacketWave system leads the industry in implementing advanced IP features and services such as packet filtering, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) configuration download, which gives service providers maximum flexibility in provisioning secure services for customers. The PW 760 performs bridging, routing or VLAN to offer a complete set of IP networking features with Quality of Service (QoS).

In conjunction with Aperto subscriber units, the PW 760 base station enables the following IP networking applications:

-- Routing of multiple subnets on the wireless port

This provides efficient utilization of wireless bandwidth and additional security. Routing information can be configured either statically or dynamically using the RIPv2 routing protocol.

-- NAT/PPPoE protocol on subscriber units

This conserves the number of public IP addresses necessary to implement large-scale networks while providing security and control for billing.

-- VLAN in multiple modes

Tagged, double-tagged, and pass-through, with three separate VLANs per CPE for management, NAT/PPPoE, and bridged IP traffic. Special modes enable reselling of wireless bandwidth and VoIP bridging in conjunction with NAT/PPPoE.

-- Advanced Bridging with thousands of MAC addresses per

subscriber unit

This easily handles IPv4 traffic, in conjunction with the extended packet sizes necessary for pass-through of VLAN, PPPoE, MPLS, and IPv6. Additionally, layer 2 and 3 classification may be made for QoS and filtering.

The PW 760 is available now for the 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, and will operate in the same sector and same cell as Aperto's WiMAX Forum-certified(TM) base stations and subscriber equipment when they are introduced in the coming year. The PW 760 will be demonstrated in Aperto booth # 323 at the Wireless Communications Association's annual conference in Washington, DC, next week.

About Aperto Networks

Aperto Networks is a leader in 802.16 class multiservice broadband wireless access systems for global markets. The company was founded to provide breakthrough solutions to the bottleneck in last-mile broadband access, and is a founding board member of the WiMAX Forum as well as a founder and lead contributor to IEEE 802.16 and the ETSI-BRAN standards. Its PacketWave(R) system is a family of base stations, subscriber units, radios and antennas in 2.5, 3.5 and 5 GHz frequencies for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployment. PacketWave's scalability and patented technologies support new wireless builds and complement wireline broadband access networks. Aperto is already deployed in 45 countries, meeting service provider needs for installation ease, IP-rich network functionality, cost effectiveness, rapid provisioning and interference resilience. For more information on Aperto Networks, go to www.apertonet.com.