Broadband Wireless Internet Forum Announces European Open Meeting in Amsterdam.

Business Editors

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 11, 2001

Following the launch of a Europe-wide Marketing Campaign in August, the Broadband Wireless Internet Forum (BWIF) is holding a second European Open Meeting at the Amsterdam Hilton on Wednesday, 7 November 2001.

BWIF's mission is to promote industry standards in the broadband wireless sector.

This meeting follows on the success of BWIF's Inaugural European Meeting, held in January of this year, which attracted over 200 participants, representing 78 companies from this dynamic sector.

The Broadband Wireless Internet Forum (BWIF), a program of the IEEE Industry Standards and Technology Organization (IEEE-ISTO), was established in July 2000 to facilitate cost-effective, broadband wireless access solutions, 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 standards are based on utilising Vector Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (VOFDM) for the development of fixed broadband wireless specifications.

Taking place during the afternoon of 7 November, and followed by an informal reception, this free event will enable players in the broadband market to hear speakers from BWIF's membership talk about the specifications necessary to the provision of broadband wireless services, as well as the value of VOFDM technology. Other topics on the programme include the challenges associated with deploying broadband wireless access systems and a review of equipment specifications.

Ender Ayanoglu, chair of BWIF said: "The European market is ripe for the adoption of fixed wireless technologies and our forthcoming meeting provides a great opportunity to meet colleagues and potential customers. BWIF is already working closely with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and actively participating in ETSI's Broadband Radio Access Network (BRAN) working group, which is leading ETSI's own research into broadband wireless standards. BWIF is also currently in discussions with a number of government agencies across Europe with a view to their joining the new category of Government Membership of BWIF."

"The opportunity afforded by Europe for the Broadband sector is immense and BWIF is looking forward to welcoming potential members to the meeting in order for them to find out more about the benefits of membership of BWIF, and hear more about the programmes currently being undertaken by the organisation." BWIF welcomes participation from companies and organisations 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.

Advanced registration is required in order to attend this meeting. Please visit www.bwif.org and complete the registration form. The BWIF European Open Meeting will follow the Fixed Wireless Broadband Technology Europe conference and exhibition in Amsterdam, November 5-7. Additional information can be obtained at http://www.kc-global.com/FixedWirelessBroadbandAccessEurope2001.asp.

Location: Amsterdam Hilton, Apollolaan 138, Amsterdam, Netherlands Date: Wednesday 7 November Time: 1400 - 1800 followed by Reception

Global Membership

The global membership of the BWIF has grown to 51 companies who are actively participating in the activities of the Forum, and working toward market implementations of the BWIF specifications. The BWIF Membership includes: Agilent Technologies, American Power Conversion Corporation, Analog Devices, Andrew Corporation, Axcera, Bechtel, Broadcom Corporation, BroadTel Communications, California Amplifier, CelPlan Technologies, Cisco Systems, Commworks Corporation, Correlant Communications, Denali Communications, DragonWave, Fluor Corporation, Genista Corporation, Getronics, Global Communications Devices, Innocom, LCC International, Magnolia Broadband, Marvell Semiconductor, Moseley, Motorola, National Semiconductor, nBand Communications, NetVoice, Pace Micro Technology, PipingHot Networks, Powerwave Technologies, REMEC, RF Solutions, Signal Technology Corporation, SIGTEK, Spike Broadband Systems, SR Telecom, Tality, Tandberg Television, Telaxis Communications, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, Unique Broadband Systems, Inc., Vectrad (formerly Siros), Vyyo, Wavecom Electronics, Inc., WaveIP, Wavesat Telecom, WFI (Wireless Facilities, Inc.), WJ Communications and ZyGate.

Benefits of BWIF membership include: cooperating and collaborating with international industry-leading companies in the development of a common standard under the auspices of IEEE-ISTO; economies of scale through partnerships and joint ventures; and royalty-free intellectual property rights with no license fees.