Airspan Deploys Australia's First Ever WiMAX Forum Certified System At The Australian Formula One Grand Prix
Airspan Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRN), a leading worldwide provider of WiMAX and Wi-Fi based broadband wireless access networks, and carrier class Voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) solutions, announced today the recent successful deployment of Australia's first ever WiMAX Forum Certified™ solution with the help of Intel Corporation.
Intel Australia this year approached the Grand Prix Corporation to propose the use of a WiMAX wireless data connection to link medical specialists trackside at the Melbourne Grand Prix with their counterparts at the Alfred Hospital.
Airspan Networks' AS.MAX solution, parts of which were recently certified by the WiMAX Forum™, was then deployed to provide high-speed broadband connectivity from the racetrack to the hospital, over a distance of three kilometres. An AS.MAX MacroMAX Base Station was placed on the top of a building adjoining Albert Park, where the Formula One race is held every year. Two Airspan ProST WiMAX subscriber units were deployed at the trackside trauma centre, providing connectivity for mobile computers (laptops) and portable x-ray systems. Airspan's EasyST, the world's first "Self Installable" WiMAX Forum Certified™ modem, was also used trackside. The Airspan Networks EasyST and ProST both incorporate Intel's ProWireless 5116 chip.
Airspan's AS.MAX solution is the first WiMAX Forum Certified™ solution that has ever been used in Australia. It is also the first time WiMAX technology has been operated anywhere in licensed 3.5GHz spectrum in Australia. That spectrum was loaned to Intel, Airspan and the Grand Prix Corporation for the duration of the event by Unwired Australia, which owns rights to WiMAX spectrum in Australia's capital cities and is gearing up for commercial WiMAX services on a larger scale in the future.
During the course of the race the Airspan WiMAX technology provided a rapid and reliable link between the F1 track and the Alfred Hospital. Equipment connected over the AS.MAX links reported speeds of 9Mbps, and delivered more than 3Mbps continuous throughput.
Eric Stonestrom, Airspan's President and CEO, stated: "The AS.MAX WiMAX equipment deployed by Airspan and Intel sets a new standard of improved safety at Australia's premier motor racing event, giving the trackside specialists direct access to clinical, pathology, diagnostic and administrative systems back at the Alfred Hospital in real time."
Airspan Networks is a founding member of the WiMAX Forum and is committed to utilizing its technology in a variety of unique applications in order to highlight the significant market that its WiMAX product line will be targeting.
WiMAX Forum™ and WiMAX Forum Certified™ are trademarks of the WiMAX Forum.
About Airspan Networks, Inc.
Airspan Networks provides fixed and wireless voice and data systems and solutions, including Voice Over IP (VoIP). Its wireless products serve operators around the world in both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands between 700 MHz and 6 GHz, including both PCS and 3.5GHz international bands. Airspan has a strong wireless product roadmap that includes WiMAX Forum Certified™ 802.16 solutions and offerings compliant with the 802.11 a/b/g. Our AS.MAX WiMAX product also includes software upgradeability to Mobile WiMAX (the 802.16e-2005 standard). Airspan is on the Board and is a founder member of the WiMAX Forum and a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Company has deployments with more than 350 operators in more than 100 countries. Airspan's wireless systems are based on radio technology that delivers excellent area coverage, high security and resistance to fading. These systems can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, providing an attractive alternative to traditional wired communications networks. Airspan's new AS.Tone VoIP system is a carrier class, turnkey solution that provides carriers with Class 4, Class 5 and IP-Centrex solutions and has a Softswitch and Gateways supporting SIP/H323 and SIP. AS.Tone's design provides customers, carriers, next-generation telcos, cellular providers and ITSP with a wide range of solutions with the best price/performance system for IP telephony. Airspan also offers radio planning, network installation, integration, training and support services to facilitate the deployment and operation of its systems. Airspan is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with its main operations center in Uxbridge, United Kingdom.