Adaptive Broadband Wins $23 Million Contract From Worldwide Wireless Networks for AB-Access Wireless Data Networking Equipment.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 1999--

Adaptive Broadband(TM) Corporation (Nasdaq:ADAP) announced today it has signed a $23 million, three-year contract with Global Pacific Wireless Internet, Orange, CA, a division of Worldwide Wireless Networks, Inc. for AB-Access(TM) wireless data networking equipment.

The Orange, CA-based wireless Internet Service Provider delivers next-generation high-speed Internet connectivity and collocation services to enterprise business customers and multi-tenant facilities. Worldwide Wireless covers approximately 80% of Orange County through its own point-to-multipoint wireless network. The carrier plans to expand its coverage into Los Angeles and San Diego counties, using the AB-Access high-speed, wireless broadband equipment.

AB-Access Selected for Reliability, Scalability

"We are carrying mission-critical data for many of our high-speed wireless customers, such as the Orange County government offices and police department. We have used other manufacturers' equipment in our network in the past, but we selected Adaptive Broadband for this long-term, strategic partnership due to both the reliability and scalable features provided by their AB-Access solution. Our expansion into Los Angeles and San Diego can be accelerated by the use of Adaptive Broadband's equipment. The sheer size of this investment on our part speaks to our commitment to being the wireless Internet provider of choice," commented Jack Tortorice, chief executive officer of Worldwide Wireless Networks.

Scalable Feature of Wireless Networks Allows Flexible Expansion

Adaptive Broadband's wireless point-to-multipoint solution for fixed networks enables customers to leapfrog existing infrastructure, so the initial investment is significantly lower than that required for "wired" alternatives. "This low-cost wireless infrastructure means that a complete network can be installed in days or weeks, instead of the typical months or years. And because AB-Access' architecture is highly scalable, the network can grow as the business grows, or as bandwidth needs evolve. This feature is attractive to innovative carriers, such as Worldwide Wireless Networks," observed Salvatore S. Benti, Adaptive Broadband's senior vice president for wireless broadband networks.

From 25 Mbps to 100 Mbps in the Year 2000

The AB-Access technology was engineered to work at any frequency from 2 to 42 GHz. The first releases for AB-Access are for applications using the 5 GHz U-NII (Unlicensed-National Information Infrastructure) and 2.5 GHz MMDS (Multi-channel, Multi-point Distribution Service) frequency bands. AB-Access was introduced earlier this year for ultra high speed Internet access. It bridges the last mile, replacing the local loop for business and residential subscribers.

AB-Access offers data transmission at rates up to 25 Mbps, a speed more than 400 times faster than dial-up service with a 56K modem. This allows users to transmit voice, download full-streaming video, download data files, use real-time video conferencing and surf the Worldwide Web -- all at the same time over a single connection.

Adaptive Broadband is working to deliver higher data rates in mid 2000 -- from 25 up to 100 megabits per second -- which will allow carriers to add more users without compromising their throughput capability. Additionally, the company announced that it is developing a version of AB-Access for the 3.5 GHz market in Europe. A prototype will be tested during the first quarter of 2000.

Three Internet Contracts Involving U-NII Band Application

This is the third contract for AB-Access announced by Adaptive Broadband within the past 90 days. All three are for applications in the U-NII band. In July, Adaptive Broadband announced that I3S (http://www.I3S.com), an Irving, Texas high-speed data services provider, signed a contract initially valued at $100-million over five years for AB-Access equipment to be used in multi-tenant residential buildings across 48 U.S. states.

Once installed, it will provide ultra high speed Internet access for 20- to 30-million residences. And in September, Adaptive Broadband announced receipt of an initial $20 million, three-year contract from Fuzion Technologies (http://gofuzion.com) of Boca Raton, FL, to supply AB-Access to business users of the Internet.

U-NII contains three frequency bands that each consist of 100 MHz in the 5 GHz range. No FCC action is required to use the band, so it allows carriers both large and small to compete instantly for voice and data services.

About Worldwide Wireless Networks

Worldwide Wireless Networks http://www.wwwn.com is a networking solutions company, headquartered in Orange, California. The company specializes in high-speed Internet access using an owned wireless network. Other products and services include DSL, frame relay, collocation services, and network consulting. The company serves all sizes of commercial business accounts and the home office market.

About Adaptive Broadband

Adaptive Broadband (www.adaptivebroadband.com) is a data networking solutions company -- a leading provider of terrestrial wireless and satellite-based systems to support ultra high speed Internet access, broadcast digital TV transport and worldwide Internet backbones. The company also provides industry-leading solutions for satellite-based data communications and terrestrial wireless telemetry networks.

The foregoing includes forward-looking statements, such as the company's potential success in capturing market share, that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in quarterly results, delays in receipt of orders or in the shipment of products, dependence on evolving telecommunications and Internet markets and success in implementing the company's strategic plan. For a more detailed discussion of these and other factors, see "Risk Factors" contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.