Crosspan Active Antennas Used in North America's First GSM Wide-area Micro Radio Base Station Installation.

Business Editors & Telecommunications Writers

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2000

Active Antenna-Enabled Micro Base Station Helps PCS Carriers Reduce

Operations Costs, Simplifies Site Acquisition

Crosspan, a newly named telecommunications division of Raytheon Commercial Electronics, today announced that its active antennas -- integrated into Ericsson's GSM Maxite(TM) 1900 system -- were successfully deployed by Powertel in its Jacksonville, Fla., PCS network. As the first North American PCS operator to use micro base stations with macro coverage capability, Powertel has 18 Maxite cellsites operational to date, with plans to continue build out efforts this year.

"Crosspan's active antennas provide us with the flexibility to deploy sites in areas never possible before," said Hennie Pelzer, Powertel Jacksonville RF Manager. "Active antennas directly support our co-location strategy and eases tremendously our efforts to obtain zoning approvals."

Crosspan's Mobile & Fixed Wireless Access business unit, the first to design and manufacture active antennas for PCS networks, initially developed the solution to extend the range of a cellsite and reduce the total number of base stations required for rural and highway applications. Following successful field trials and now commercial deployment, the flexibility of the active antenna-enabled Maxite(TM) is now being applied to suburban and urban environments -- in particular applications that require in-building penetration.

"With its inherent reliability and efficient use of electrical power, we expect to reduce our cell site operation and maintenance costs significantly," Pelzer added. "Our experience has been there is no need to dispatch technicians to maintain or service the active antenna based cell sites."

Crosspan offers both 500 and 1250-watt effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP), two carrier, active antennas which consist of a multi-aperture phased array antenna, distributed low-power amplifiers and low-noise amplifiers (all integrated in a single package). This distributed architecture provides a balanced link, enhanced power and sensitivity for fault-tolerant performance for continuous service coverage in extreme environments. The antenna's active electronics are fully alarmed and protected with integrated lightning and surge suppression.

"Wireless operators are beginning to realize the significant cost-efficiencies and flexibility in locating cell sites that result from the active electronics residing on the mast compared to the base transceiver system on the ground," said Bruce Robidou, director of marketing and product management for Crosspan's Mobile & Fixed Wireless Access business unit. "Our active antennas have been performing with compact base stations continuously for nearly two years, enduring the severe storm and climate conditions of Jacksonville, which validates our equipment's performance, reliability and survivability."

With only a single antenna required per sector and the ability to use 1/2 or 7/8-inch duplexed RF feeder cables up to 100 meters from the base transceiver system, active antennas support today's co-location and flexible antenna siting needs. With the improved mast aesthetics, active antennas can also help an operator with its local zoning approval efforts. In addition, cell site capital costs are significantly lowered by the use of two very low-cost RF feeder cables, while operational & maintenance costs are reduced with a fault tolerant low-power amplifier architecture.

Crosspan, wholly-owned by Raytheon Company, leverages its rich heritage as a leading innovator of wireless technologies and proven products for today and emerging global telecommunications markets. Headquartered in Dallas, the company supplies tailored, volume sensitive solutions that complete mobile, broadband wireless and satellite access network systems. For more information about Crosspan and its products, visit www.crosspan.com.

Powertel, Inc. provides 100 percent digital PCS Wireless services in its licensed service area in 12 states in the Southeast -- the largest contiguous PCS network in the southeastern United States. Through its affiliation with other GSM carriers, Powertel's coverage extends across the United States to most major cities and into much of Canada to a population of more than 180 million people. For more information on Powertel and its products and services, visit the company on its Web site at: http://www.powertel.com.

Ericsson is the leading provider in the new telecoms world, with communications solutions that combine telecom and datacom technologies with freedom of mobility for the user. With more than 100,000 employees in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for its customers -- network operators, service providers, enterprises and consumers -- the world over. Please visit Ericsson's Press Room at: http://www.ericsson.se/pressroom.