Airspan Networks Selected by Siemens to Provide $8.2M Telecom Access Network in Lesotho.

Business Editors

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2002

Airspan Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: AIRN), a leading worldwide equipment provider of wireless DSL networks, has signed an agreement with Siemens to provide $8.2 million of Airspan's AS4000 systems for a major new network in the South African country of Lesotho.

This is the second project involving the Eskom electric utility group of South Africa, which are part owners of Lesotho Telecom. Last year, Airspan was awarded a project for the Second Network Operator (S.N.O.) in South Africa, also backed by Eskom.

The deployment will add 24,000 lines, to be completed by mid December 2002. Initial equipment deliveries have already occurred and additional deliveries will take place over the next twelve weeks.

"We are excited about this significant project, which extends the cooperation between Airspan and Siemens to another network," said Anders Rendahl, Vice President and General Manager, EMEA, Airspan.

With a population in excess of 75 million, Southern Africa is a growing market for broadband fixed wireless communications services. It is estimated that there are close to 800,000 potential small and medium enterprise (SME) customers in Southern Africa that can benefit from high-speed Internet and quality voice services. Additionally, residential and small office/home office (SOHO) markets are increasingly high-growth areas that can be serviced by Airspan's technology.

The Airspan AS4000 system offers point-to-multipoint delivery of a wide range of telecommunication services including premium telephony, high-speed packet and leased-line data. The system has coverage of up to 25km from base with quality of service exceeding traditional copper wire systems. It has frequencies ranging from 900MHz to 4 GHz.

About Siemens

With more than 250 million EWSD-switched lines across the globe, Siemens is the number one supplier worldwide for carriers in this segment. Its customers include 300 fixed-network operators in 109 countries. EWSD is constantly being refined in order to exploit new business opportunities for network operators through new solutions. In connection with the Attane and SURPASS technology and product families, EWSD also supports migration to the Next Generation Network (NGN). For more information on Siemens and its varied list of companies, www.siemens.com

About Airspan Networks

Airspan provides wireless DSL systems and solutions to operators around the world with licenses in frequency bands between 900 MHz to 4 GHz, including both PCS and MMDS. The company has deployments with more than 90 operators in more than 45 countries. Airspan's systems are based on radio technology that delivers wide area coverage, security and resistance to fading. Airspan's systems can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, providing 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. More information on Airspan can be found at http://www.airspan.com

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. Forward looking statements in this press release include statements that the South African market is a high growth market for the company's products, that the AS4000 wireless DSL system provides the optimum solution for the wideband service segment, that there are a number of market opportunities for Airspan and Siemens in South Africa and elsewhere in the world and the potential that Airspan will be involved in a number of transactions with Siemens in the future. 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.