Saudi Telecom Deploys Airspan's 3.5 GHz WiMAX Solution

Saudi Telecom Deploys Airspan's 3.5 GHz WiMAX Solution

Airspan Networks Inc., a leading worldwide provider of WiMAX-based broadband wireless access networks, announced today that the Saudi Arabian carrier, Saudi Telecom, has successfully deployed WiMAX services using Airspan's HiperMAX base stations, which provide both fixed and mobile WiMAX solutions. The second phase of the award is now being activated with Airspan supplying its EasyST indoor and ProST outdoor subscriber terminals. Airspan is working with its Saudi Arabian partner, Arabian Development and Marketing Company, Ltd (ADMC), to supply Saudi Telecom with WiMAX solutions.

Saudi Telecom, the largest Tier 1 carrier in the country, has a 3.5 GHz license covering the entire kingdom. It is deploying Airspan's HiperMAX base stations, which will enable Saudi Telecom to offer broadband data/internet & voice services based on an 802.16e-2005 ready WiMAX platform. This WiMAX equipment is being deployed to provide broadband wireless connections to both urban and rural areas.

Samir Matbouli, Saudi Telecom's Vice President for the Enterprise Business unit, said, "Saudi Telecom continues to strive towards its objective of being a customer-centric and competitive company. We believe that WiMAX technology is one of the important tools in broadband wireless access technology which will enable Saudi Telecom to provide highly reliable broadband voice and data access quickly on demand, everywhere and anywhere, within Saudi Arabia. We are confident that Airspan's WiMAX solution will help us to achieve our goals."

Airspan's Senior Vice President of Sales and General Manager of EMEA, Anders Rendahl, commented, "We are very pleased to be working with Saudi Telecom in its WiMAX initiative. We are fully committed to strengthen and continue our strategic cooperation with them as their WiMAX business grows."

Airspan's HiperMAX Base Station and Indoor EasyST WiMAX modem support both Fixed WiMAX (16d) and Mobile WiMAX (16e) System Profiles. This, combined with support for 5, 7 and 10 MHz channels ensures the solution is highly scaleable, delivering up to 32Mbit/s per channel, and up to 12 channels per Base Station. HiperMAX supports advanced multi-channel Receiver and Transmit diversity, and MIMO that delivers class-leading operational range and true indoor coverage.