AARO Secures Funding to Begin Rural Broadband Telecom Project; Municipal League Provides Initial $274,000 Capital Infusion.

Business Editors & Technology Writers

OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2001

AARO Broadband Wireless Communications, Inc. (OTC:AARW) has received funding from the Oklahoma Municipal League (OML) to begin its rural high-speed telecommunications project, the company announced today.

According to AARO President and CEO Ron Baker, the OML provided in excess of $270,000 for AARO to conduct demonstration projects in the first three of nearly 50 small Oklahoma communities. Baker and OML Executive Director Danny George said the list of initial communities is to be announced upon completion of negotiations between OML and the individual municipalities.

"This capital infusion will allow us to go forward with this project immediately. Our plan is to have the first three communities on line by early March. We anticipate installing service to all 45 targeted regional business airports by the end of the year," Baker said.

George said the project is designed to install AARO high-speed fixed-wireless Internet access at 45 regional airports in 44 Oklahoma communities. The agreement grew out of the Oklahoma Regional Business Airport Summit that took place in Tulsa November 1-2, 2000. George said a consortium consisting of AARO, the OML, the Oklahoma Aeronautics and Space Commission and various public and private entities was formed to target municipalities, seek funding sources and deploy service throughout the state.

Baker said the consortium's high-speed telecommunications project focuses on closing the Digital Divide between Oklahoma's rural communities and its larger metropolitan areas. Announced last November, the goal of this project is to install broad bandwidth wireless telecommunications services throughout the state, creating a virtual community in which the playing field is leveled between small and large communities, Baker said.

"This is a radical leap forward for telecommunications in Oklahoma. Today, this state begins its climb off the list of the `Disconnected Dozen', 12 U.S. states with the poorest telecommunications infrastructures," he said.

Under last November's agreement, AARO will provide service in each community, initially to the local regional business airport. With the assistance of the OML and the Oklahoma Municipal Service Corporation, each municipality will be responsible for redistributing the signal throughout the community using wireless telecommunications equipment.

"Fixed-wireless broadband service offers a larger number of options to the targeted municipalities. Whereas fiber- or copper-wired services have proven to be too expensive or unmanageable for these communities, fixed-wireless is rapidly deployed, easily maintained, and much more cost effective for small municipalities," said George.

About AARO

AARO Broadband Wireless Communications, Inc. provides wireless connectivity up to 100 Mbps. AARO New World services such as unified communications, IP telephony and videoconferencing services are delivered via a highly secure, carrier-class IP network. For additional news and information, please visit us at www.aarowireless.com.

This document includes forward-looking statements, made under the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," and other words of similar nature. These statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections that are subject to risk and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, success of negotiations, availability of financing, political currency and regulatory, competitive and technological developments. Consequently, actual results could differ materially from those forward-looking statements. AARO Broadband Wireless Communications, Inc. does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligations to update forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.