Broadband Wireless Internet Access Gains High Speed Standard; IEEE-ISTO Sponsored Multivendor Broadband Wireless Internet Forum to Convene; Open Meeting on July 26.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 2000

The IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (IEEE-ISTO) today announced the formation and first meeting of the Broadband Wireless Internet Forum (BWIF). The goal of the BWIF is to provide cost-effective, broadband wireless access, with industry-leading performance and reliability for compelling end-user applications such as high-speed Internet access, premium streaming audio and video content and voice. BWIF becomes the sixth publicly announced industry group to organize as a program of the IEEE-ISTO, which will facilitate the Forum's day-to-day activities.

BWIF is an incorporated, non-profit association of industry-leading companies that will work together to ensure adoption of a single, unified broadband wireless access industry standard. Members of BWIF will drive product roadmaps that will lower product costs, simplify deployment of advanced services, and ensure the availability of interoperable standards-based solutions based on Vector Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (VOFDM) technology. BWIF members agree to cross-license to other BWIF members, the technologies required to implement the standard on a worldwide, royalty-free basis.

Wireless Starting Point

Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, is contributing to BWIF several patent-pending Broadband Wireless intellectual property innovations based on VOFDM, a cost-effective version of MIMO OFDM (Multiple Input Multiple Output Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). VOFDM streams high-speed voice, video and data easily through congested city, suburban and rural environments by minimizing the line-of-sight limitations and installation problems faced by other broadband wireless access technologies. Cisco's Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) solutions, based on the VOFDM standard, are currently in trials with major telecommunications carriers in several metropolitan areas in the United States

Also taking a leadership role in support of BWIF is Broadcom Corporation. Broadcom is implementing VOFDM technology in integrated circuits, and is offering early access to system-level silicon for select customers to accelerate broadband wireless equipment provider's products to the market. Broadcom's heritage with numerous standards-based efforts addresses a wide range of markets including Data-over-Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), HomePNA and Gigabit Ethernet over Copper. Broadcom's industry-leading, highly integrated, silicon solutions enable broadband digital transmission of voice, data and video content to and throughout the home and within the business enterprise.

Invitation to Open Meeting on July 26

The first meeting of BWIF will include an Open Meeting, to be held on July 26, 2000 in Denver, Colorado, USA. BWIF will host companies representing many facets of wireless technology implementation including service providers, semiconductor manufacturers, system integrators, Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) vendors, installation services companies and Radio Frequency (RF) system suppliers. Companies planning to attend the first plenary meeting include Cisco Systems, Inc., Broadcom Corporation, Toshiba, Pace Micro Technology plc., LCC International, Inc., Getronics, Bechtel, TurboNet Communications, Fluor, PipingHot Networks, WFI (Wireless Facilities, Inc.) and W J Communications.

This meeting will offer participants the opportunity to gain a complete understanding of BWIF's goals and organizational structure. Interested parties will also review the Intellectual Property License Agreement, and gain insight into the future BWIF capabilities and programs. Information regarding this Open Meeting can be accessed at http://www.ieee-isto.org/bwif/. Advanced registration is required to attend this meeting.

About the IEEE-ISTO

The IEEE-ISTO was formed by the IEEE and the IEEE Standards Association as a logical extension to the IEEE Standards activity to provide services to industry groups that need to develop technology based standards for the marketplace. The IEEE-ISTO is an independent not-for-profit corporation offering standards-related industry groups an innovative and flexible operational legal forum and support services. The IEEE-ISTO facilitates the activities that support the development, implementation and acceptance of standards in the marketplace. In addition to the BWIF, the 1355 Association, Nexus 5001 Forum, Medical Device Communications Industry Group, Printer Working Group, and the VoiceXML Forum, are currently organized as publically announced programs of the IEEE-ISTO.

For further information about the IEEE-ISTO visit http://www.ieee-isto.org or contact Peter Lefkin, IEEE-ISTO secretary treasurer and CFO, at 732/465-6582, or [e-mail]. For further information about the BWIF call 732/465-6473 or e-mail [e-mail].