Cedarcom and Aperto Networks Announce Deployment of Business-Grade Broadband Wireless Access in Lebanon  

Milpitas, Calif. and Beirut, Lebanon, (May 3, 2004) – Cedarcom, SAL, a nationwide wireless data provider in Lebanon, and Aperto Networks, a leading 802.16a class broadband wireless access (BWA) systems provider, announced today that Aperto's PacketWave® 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz licensed BWA systems have been deployed in the Greater Beirut area.  

Cedarcom provides wireless data connectivity and last-mile access solutions to Lebanese ISPs, ASPs, banks, universities, multi-branch organizations and SMEs. Cedarcom now plans to deepen its coverage nationwide via its license holdings in the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz frequency bands, offering high bandwidth, business-grade broadband wireless access to all major cities and business centers in Lebanon. Within 45 days broadband coverage will reach 15 major centers in the country, effectively covering 95% of the business community.  

"We're committed to providing an exceptional quality of service, a wide range of broadband applications, and solutions that are scalable and rapidly deliverable," said Imad M. Tarabay, chairman and CEO of Cedarcom. "Aperto allows us to extend our best-in-class networking capabilities, while providing subscribers with reliable access and competitive pricing."   "We are particularly pleased that PacketWave is able to interface seamlessly with our MPLS based backbone," he continued.

"We are the first carrier to implement MPLS in Lebanon and the first in the Middle East to deploy broadband wireless MPLS based services. The use of MPLS and PacketWave will enable us to deliver Class of Service and dynamic routing allowing better service performance and higher availability, contributing to Cedarcom's market leadership in wireless broadband."  

"Cedarcom has astutely leveraged a number of technical and marketing innovations in wireless applications," said Reza Ahy, chairman and CEO of Aperto Networks. "This demonstrates the company's ability to master and integrate advanced networking technologies for its diverse commercial customers, including financial and educational institutions, and service providers across a growing geographic footprint. We are gratified that PacketWave can assist in delivering highly-efficient, feature-rich and peak performance networking."

About Cedarcom

Cedarcom is the first and only Fixed Broadband Wireless Data Provider in Lebanon, providing a breadth of data communication, secure access and last mile solutions to the local industry. Cedarcom holds a wireless data networking license under decree number 10172, allowing the deployment and operation of a country-wide wireless data network with the advanced Broadband technology. Cedarcom has licensed spectrum in the 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 7.5 GHz frequency bands, and provides secure wireless access, data networking and last-mile solutions to banks, ISPs, ASPs, insurance companies, universities, multi-branch offices, etc. The company is the only wireless MPLS VPN provider in the Middle East. For more information on Cedarcom, go to www.cedarcom.net

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® 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 50 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.