Advanced Communications Technologies and NEC Australia join forces to establish A$32 million Wireless Communications Research Centre.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2001

Advanced Communications Technologies Inc (OTCBB:ADVC) (ACT-US) today announced that its Australian based affiliate, Advanced Communications Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd (ACT-Australia) and NEC Australia Pty Ltd have jointly headed a proposal to the Australian Government to obtain funding for a A$32 million Next Generation Wireless Communications Research Centre to be located in Melbourne, Australia.

The proposal seeks to access part of the $A176 million recently allocated by the Australian Government for the establishment of new centres of excellence in the information and communications technology (ICT) and biotechnology fields.

Focusing on an ICT centre of excellence, the joint proposal from ACT and NEC aims to establish a centre to foster commercial development of wireless applications. Importantly, the proposal includes the involvement of both RMIT University and Victoria University of Technology as academic partners.

The centre is also proposed to play a key role in the retention and development of talented Australian researchers by offering research fellowships and career opportunities. The powerful combination of industry and academia that the proposal represents is expected to create a state of the art research facility that will be integral to the development of both the Australian wireless communications industry and Australia's place in the global technology marketplace.

"This proposal represents a major step forward for ACT's US operations," said Roger May, Chairman of ACT-US. "With this centre envisaged to become a world leader in the development of wireless technologies and standards, ACT-US's ability to tap this cost effective leading edge technical resource will be invaluable in establishing the company as major force in the next generation wireless technologies. Significantly, ACT-US's ability to commercialise leading edge technologies developed by the centre will provide it with a substantial competitive advantage throughout its marketplace of North, South and Central America."

Some of the research projects for the proposed facility are expected to include the following:

-- Production of commercially viable enhanced air interface protocols

-- Design of wireless radio chip sets

-- New circuit design techniques and methodology that can be applied to ASICs

-- Combine advanced smart algorithms, advanced systems theory and
system-on-chip implementations

"The establishment of the Centre reflects our commitment to developing a pool of researchers with next generation wireless capability," says Mr Brendan McManus, Executive Director, NEC Australia. "NEC Australia currently employs 70 R&D engineers in 3G Wireless, and this proposal enables us to put this experience back into creation of a viable wireless industry for the long term."

Researchers with funding for areas of wireless technologies will be able to use the centre to carry out research. The proposal calls for a ramp-up to at least 100 researchers, but with possibly as many as 300 researchers over the five-year period, to be drawn from a wide range of leading edge technological ventures.

About Advanced Communications Technologies

Advanced Communications Technologies Inc. (OTCBB:ADVC) is a leader in the field of Software Defined Radio (SDR) that in conjunction with its Australian based affiliate has developed a proprietary, multiple-protocol wireless base station -- SpectruCell. Through eliminating the use of Qualcomm (Nasdaq:QCOM) chipsets, protocol specific hardware and by conducting all signal processing in software, SpectruCell provides for simultaneous support of multiple mobile communications protocols (CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS, GSM & 3G) all in the same base station. Support for additional protocols is achieved through the uploading of additional software modules. By implementing the company's SpectruCell technology, network providers will be able to maintain service to their existing customer base and preserve the full utilization of their existing network infrastructure while at the same time securing a highly flexible migration path for evolving 3G-based protocols such as WCDMA and UMTS. SpectruCell is complemented by several other wireless technologies currently under development in Australia. Advanced Communication Technologies Inc. plans to market these products throughout North, South and Central America. For more information regarding Advanced Communications Technologies, visit www.act-usa.net.

About NEC Australia

NEC Australia Pty Ltd specialises in providing technological and computing solutions utilising the best of mobile, internet and digital communications. The company designs, develops, sells and services a complete range of computer, communication and home electronics products and solutions for national carriers, government organisations, businesses, education and the general public. It also takes part in joint venture projects with scientific research organisations, government and universities.

The foregoing contains forward-looking information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results (expressed or implied) will not be realized.