interWAVE Announces Receipt of $1.6 Million Contract With Vodacom Congo For Infrastructure and Services in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Business Editors

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2003

interWAVE Satellite Backhaul Compression Technology Designed to Make

Vodacom Congo's Infrastructure Expansion Cost Effective

interWAVE(R) Communications International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:IWAV), a pioneer in compact wireless communications systems, today announced receipt of a $1.6 million agreement with Vodacom Congo RDC s.p.r.l., one of the fastest growing mobile communications operators in Africa. Delivery of the infrastructure and services has been and is presently expected to be spread over the three quarters ended December 2002, and March and June 2003. interWAVE's GSM network extension technology will be utilized to reach five cities within the Bas-Congo province, a major economic center of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This region is linked to the Atlantic port of Matadi, one of the largest harbors in central Africa.

interWAVE's GSM solution, integrated with advanced satellite compression capabilities, is anticipated to provide a 50+ percent satellite bandwidth savings compared to competing GSM solutions. Deployment time was also a consideration for Vodacom Congo, as interWAVE was able to commission a portion of the network within less than a week of shipment, bringing coverage to the strategic city of Kamba before Christmas.

Willem Swart, Managing Director of Vodacom Congo, commented, "interWAVE's ability to deploy the perfect solution for our changing needs quickly and effectively is impressive, as is the ability they provide us to extend coverage to hard-to-reach, remote areas. This project is particularly important to the DRC, as improving telecommunications capabilities will have a direct and profound impact on the economy and quality of life within the region."

Vodacom Congo has stated its goal to be the leading mobile communications provider in the DRC. It reached the 200,000 subscriber milestone within nine months of operation. The total population of the DRC is approximately 60 million, while only 20,000 land line telephones exist today. Significant opportunity appears to exist for interWAVE, particularly in remote and difficult-to-reach areas, as the telecommunications infrastructure within the country continues to be developed.

"We are focused on expanding our footprint within Africa, as we continue to help rapidly growing operators reach remote customers," stated Bill Carlin, interWAVE's vice president of worldwide sales and customer service. "Telecommunications are the backbone of an information-based society, and much of the population in the third world live without such services today. Land lines remain an expensive and problematic option for operators, but by utilizing interWAVE wireless technology, as Vodacom Congo has, operators can cost effectively reach more citizens with satellite or radio-based solutions which will bring immediate and lasting benefits to economic development."

About Vodacom

Vodacom is a world class cellular communications company providing a GSM service to 8 million customers in South Africa, Tanzania, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Vodacom is South Africa's leading cellular network with 60% share of the market and more than 90% of all new connections are prepaid customers. Vodacom Congo (RDC) s.p.r.l. was launched on May 1, 2001, following the ratification of a joint venture agreement between Congolese Wireless Networks (CWN) and Vodacom International Limited. Vodacom Group (Pty) Ltd shareholders are Telkom SA - 50%, Vodafone Group -35%, Venfin - 15%. For more information, http://www.vodacom.co.za.

About interWAVE

interWAVE Communications International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:IWAV) is a global provider of compact network solutions and services that offer innovative, cost-effective and scalable networks allowing operators to "reach the unreached." interWAVE solutions provide economical, distributed networks that minimize capital expenditures while accelerating customers' revenue generation. These solutions feature a product suite for the rapid and simple deployment of end-to-end compact cellular systems and broadband wireless data networks. interWAVE's highly portable, mobile cellular networks and broadband wireless solutions provide vital and reliable wireless communications capabilities for customers in over 50 countries. The Company's U.S. subsidiary is headquartered at 312 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, California, and can be contacted at www.iwv.com or at 650/838-2000.

Editor's Note: interWAVE is a registered trademark of interWAVE Communications International, Ltd.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the results of interWAVE Communications International, Ltd. to differ materially from management's current expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks relating to interWAVE's history of losses, the expectation of future losses, potential lack of liquidity and capital resources, reliance on a small number of customers, complexity of products, difficulties in introducing new or enhanced products, compliance with regulations and evolving industry standards, long sales cycles, intense competition, management of global operations, the ability to retain and motivate key employees, and acquisition related risk factors including potential asset impairment, dilution of shares outstanding, cash outflow for acquisitions, increases in debt absorbed and potential post-acquisition employee retention, as well as the Risk Factors discussed in the filings and reports made from time to time by interWAVE with the Securities and Exchange Commission.