Airspan Networks Align Products with Newly-Approved IEEE 802.16a Global Interoperability Standards.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Broadband Wireless World 2003

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2003

Airspan Joins Peers In Newly-formed WiMAX Forum To Ensure Global

Standardization of Broadband Fixed Wireless Equipment

Airspan Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:AIRN), a leading global provider of fixed broadband wireless DSL networks, announced today that in what is certain to be a catalyst for the fixed broadband wireless access market worldwide, it has joined the efforts of a peer industry group adopting the IEEE's recent approval of 802.16a(TM) as the first true global, certifiable standard covering the 2 to 11GHz frequency range.

Through its affiliation with the California-based, non-profit WiMAX Forum, Airspan joins a group of industry peers focused on the interoperability of multi-vendor products. This will result in greater economies of scale for network operators, who have often cited the lack of standards as the principal stumbling block inhibiting the purchase of broadband wireless access technologies.

The IEEE 802.16a(TM) specification covers the fixed wireless access segment employing point to multipoint (PMP) network architectures. It is a WirelessMAN (metropolitan access network) OFDM-based standard. Its air interface incorporates an intelligent medium access control (MAC) layer that ensures the necessary levels of Quality of Service (QoS) for ATM and IP networks, enabling carriers to deliver broadband on-demand services. One of the most attractive features of the standard is that it can be optimized for different kinds of technologies.

The announcement of IEEE's approval for 802.16a(TM) coincides with the completion of the initial phase of Airspan's research and development in this area, ensuring that existing and future products will be fully compliant to the specifications.

"There is no doubt that the approval of 802.16a(TM) will serve as a catalyst for growth in the broadband wireless access business," said Paul Senior, Airspan's vice president, product management and marketing. "As has been the case with new technologies which have preceded it, broadband wireless access will begin to reap high rewards by the establishment of a global standard and continued efforts by all of us in this segment to pursue the goal of true interoperability among competing products."

Senior's latter comments are particularly significant because like one of its predecessors, the IEEE 802.11b(TM) standard, 802.16a(TM) has evolved as the result of many compromises which has set up the standard in an open, flexible way. Vendors can claim compliance while still having the choice to select OFDM or CDMA for the physical layer, and ATM or IP for the network layer.

As in the case of 802.11b(TM), the establishment of a global standard has proven to serve as the period of real growth for a technology. While industries eventually coalesce around one particular element of a standard, many in the industry concur that there needs to be a clear starting point - in this case 802.16a(TM).

Airspan joins a group of companies in WiMAX, which include Intel, Nokia, Hughes Network Systems, OFDM, Fujitsu, Wi-LAN, Ensemble Communications, Proxim, Aperto and Alvarion. WiMAX will be hosting an educational session for all those interested in joining the organization during the upcoming Broadband Wireless World Forum, April 9-10 in San Jose, California. WiMAX will post literature from this session on its website at http://www.wimaxforum.org. Airspan will exhibit at the BBWF (Booth 615).

About Airspan Networks

Airspan Networks provides wireless DSL systems and solutions to both licensed and unlicensed operators around the world in frequency bands between 900 MHz to 4 GHz, including both PCS and 3.5GHz. Additionally, Airspan has developed an enhanced version of its WipLL product, which in addition to the 2.4GHz range, serves unlicensed operators in the 5.7-5.8GHz range. Airspan continues to evolve its products in order to meet new 802.11b and 802.16a IEEE standards. The company has deployments with more than 100 operators in more than 50 countries. Airspan's systems are based on radio technology that delivers excellent area coverage, high security and resistance to fading. Airspan's systems can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, providing an attractive alternative to traditional wired communications networks. Airspan also offers radio planning, network installation, integration, training and support services to facilitate the deployment and operation of its systems. Airspan is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with its main operations center in Uxbridge, United Kingdom. More information on Airspan can be found at http://www.airspan.com.

About WiMAX Forum

WiMAX is a nonprofit corporation formed to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless access devices using the IEEE(TM) 802.16 wireless MAN specification and to help accelerate the introduction of these devices into the marketplace. More information is available at http://www.wimaxforum.org.

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to future events or future financial performance that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are only predictions and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these statements based on those factors identified in the company's filings with the SEC. The words "believe", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but their absence does not mean that the statement is not forward looking. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this announcement.