Orthogon Systems Extends OS-Gemini Product Line to the 5.4 GHz Unlicensed Band; High-Performance, Proven Carrier-Class Connectivity Now Offered for Both the 5.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz Unlicensed Bands

Business Wire, Jan 23, 2006

ASHBURTON, England & WALTHAM, Mass. -- Orthogon Systems, a leading provider of fixed wireless solutions for reliable connectivity in difficult environments, today announced that the company has extended the OS-Gemini family of point-to-point wireless Ethernet bridges to operate in the 5.4 GHz unlicensed frequency band. With the launch of OS-Gemini for 5.4 GHz, the carrier-class connectivity and high-performance of OS-Gemini is now available to a larger group of operators and enterprises in more countries around the world where the 5.4 GHz unlicensed band continues to grow in availability each year.

The new OS-Gemini 5.4 GHz product family is complementary to the existing OS-Gemini 5.8 GHz, giving customers another option for deploying wireless solutions on the global 5 GHz frequency. This translates into expanded range to reach more customers in their service areas as well as reduced installation and maintenance costs overall. Both OS-Gemini product families achieve the same performance of up to 44 Mbps aggregate user throughput and maintain the same exceptional link availability of up to 99.999 percent in long-range Line-of-Sight (LoS) and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) environments.

By operating in the 5.4 GHz band, Orthogon will be extending greater wireless broadband bandwidth and reliability to new customers throughout Europe, Central and Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Governments in these markets are the latest to make unlicensed bands in 5 GHz available to service providers and enterprises to meet the growing demand for broadband.

"The introduction of our new OS-Gemini 5.4 GHz product family signifies that a greater number of operators and enterprises in more countries around the world can successfully establish radio links where it was not previously possible," said Phil Bolt, CEO, Orthogon Systems. "This new product line is our direct response to pent-up customer demand for broadband wireless in regions where the 5.8 GHz band is not available."

The 5.4 GHz solutions leverage the same patented technology seen in the OS-Gemini for the 5.8 GHz unlicensed band. Orthogon's use of Multibeam Space Time Coding -- its unique MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antenna technology -- overcomes fading problems that often make it impossible to establish links in more challenging environments. A truly software-defined radio, OS-Gemini is perfectly suited for filling broadband gaps in service provider infrastructure and for building private broadband networks.

The OS-Gemini is also easy to install and manage, allowing wireless service providers, carriers, utilities companies and large enterprises, such as those in healthcare, education and government industries, to quickly deploy a solution that brings excess capacity, cost-savings and revenue-generating benefits. In addition, OS-Gemini customers achieve a fast return on their investment, typically in less than a year.

The OS-Gemini family of products for the license-exempt 5.4 GHz band includes:

OS-Gemini Integrated - 44 Mbps solutions with built-in antennas

OS-Gemini Connectorized - 44 Mbps solutions with high-gain advantage of external antennas

OS-Gemini Lite Integrated and Connectorized - 22 Mbps solutions for budget-constrained organizations that need robust solutions to overcome interference and navigate obstructions

All OS-Gemini products include Orthogon Systems' unique combination of technologies designed to protect against fading and radically increase performance, including:

--Best-in-class software-defined radios with high power output, large antenna gain, low noise and low system loss to penetrate difficult NLoS paths

--Multi-beam space-time-coding to combat severe signal fading in NLoS environments

--Intelligent Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for instant de-modulation, enabling detection of signals even in harsh weather and terrain conditions

--Advanced spectrum management with intelligent Dynamic Frequency Selection (iDFS) for high reliability and availability while eliminating interference

--Adaptive modulation based on the received signal quality for maximum possible throughput at all times in spite of varying conditions

--Proprietary data scrambling technique that enable customers to superimpose complete end-to-end network security solutions

Bridging the Gap with New OS-MUX Family of Products

To help customers support legacy voice and data services, Orthogon Systems also announced today its family of OS-MUX converters. The OS-MUX converters allow users to combine Ethernet and TDM services over Orthogon's OS-Gemini wireless Ethernet bridges. The OS-MUX converter offers the flexibility of two or four T1/E1 ports (OS-MUX 2 and OS-MUX 4, respectively) plus Ethernet for LAN extension or connection to a user's Point-of-Presence (PoP). In addition to supporting framed, fractional and unframed E1/T1, prioritization of TDM traffic according to IEEE 802.1p&Q provides enhanced quality of service (QoS).

The new OS-MUX is ideal for campus network applications, inter-building PBX and LAN extensions, wireless ISP backhaul, MSO voice and data services, and telco trunking. For a cost that is much lower than leasing E1/T1 lines, the OS-MUX provides an easy-to-implement, carrier-class solution for extending voice or voice-and-data networks. As the transition to VoIP continues, the OS-MUX will provide customers with a cost-effective solution to legacy TDM services today. In addition, the OS-MUX is bundled with the OS-Gemini product family, providing ongoing investment protection to customers as their networks evolve.