CORE NEWS FACTS

CALABASAS, Calif., February 22, 2006 – Strix Systems, the leader in high-performance wireless mesh networking, today announced that Accatel, Inc., an international carrier based in New York, has partnered with Nextel Telecom (Bangladesh) to deploy a citywide wireless mesh network in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The network is based on Strix’s Access/One Network Outdoor Wireless System (OWS), a multi-radio, multi-channel, and multi-RF mesh solution that delivers the highest-capacity mesh system available today. The Strix network will provide phone and Internet service to residential and business customers in Chittagong.

Accatel is now installing 90 Strix OWS nodes for the initial network deployment, which will support 10,000 voice subscriber lines in an eight-square-mile area of Chittagong, a port city of 3.5 million people that is the commercial capital of Bangladesh. Stage 2 of the deployment, which will roll out 6-12 months after Stage 1, will add 15-20,000 voice subscriber lines. Within three years, Accatel expects the Strix wireless mesh network will employ hundreds of OWS nodes and serve an estimated 200,000 voice subscriber lines. Ultimately, Accatel and Nextel Telecom plan to expand the wireless mesh network to include all of Chittagong as well as other cities and towns within the licensing area.

“We evaluated all types of WiFi, WiMAX, and mesh networks and found that Strix has the most flexible, easy-to-deploy, redundant, low-latency, and high-bandwidth solution available today,” said Gregory Borodiansky, CTO of Accatel. “In addition to being superior technically, Strix’s solution is also more reasonably priced.”

“In developing countries such as Bangladesh, a reliable wireless mesh network is a quick and cost-effective way to facilitate communications and bring more citizens into the world economy,” Yishai Shapir, CEO of Accatel. “Strix’s solution provides us with the right approach for the Chittagong market, and the company has been extremely helpful in working with us on all aspects of this new venture.”

Service Unique in Employing SIP
“Strix’s solution gives us the flexibility to deploy a robust network and offer advanced services by running an IP-native network,” said Greg Blumstein, Executive Project Manager for Accatel. “Using SIP on top of the wireless mesh enables us to offer services and features that carriers using traditional wireless local loop solutions can’t offer. The bandwidth available from Strix’s solution will allow us to deliver much higher speed Internet connections to homes and businesses than our competitors.”

Accatel employs Ethernet IP at the network core as well as throughout the wireless network. Because Strix’s wireless mesh network enables the use of IP, the company can provide voice, data, and video service to subscribers in areas that do not currently have phone service— without building a traditional communications infrastructure. As a result, the all-IP wireless mesh network will be less expensive in initial deployment than an analog network and will also reduce on-going operational costs.

“The ability to support an all-IP deployment in Chittagong really distinguishes Strix’ solution from those of its competitors,” said Nan Chen, Vice President of Marketing at Strix Systems. “We expect to see other emerging markets also go straight to an all-IP Ethernet solution not only because it’s cost effective but also because they don’t have to concern themselves with maintaining compatibility with legacy copper-based infrastructures.”

Turnkey Solution for Local, National, and International Calls
Accatel is providing a complete turnkey solution that in addition to the Strix OWS nodes includes a softswitch, IP infrastructure, and a billing system; the company will also handle the operational and management aspects of the network. Strix OWS nodes will be deployed at a central access hub, where the wireless network connects to the Ethernet, while the rest of the OWS nodes will be deployed through the network, radially from the hub. Local calls placed on the Strix wireless mesh network will be sent to Strix nodes at the hub and forwarded to the softswitch. The switch will forward local calls through the Strix wireless mesh network and connect in-country calls to the local PTT. Accatel is also developing and manufacturing its own CPE for deployment at all subscriber locations in Chittagong.

In addition to being completely wireless, the installation will be completely off the electric grid. To ensure the network will operate under all conditions, the Strix nodes will run on batteries that can provide 4-6 days of power before being recharged. Solar panels will back up the batteries.

Accatel provides solutions to carriers and enterprise. Accatel's customers are carriers who sell Accatel's high-quality, low-cost minutes to their own residential and business customers, as well as companies and individuals who utilize Accatel's network to speak with associates, colleagues, and friends around the world. Accatel also provides direct residential services via Callcentric, its broadband phone solution. For more information about Accatel, Inc. and its retail market product Callcentric—please visit: www.accatel.com and www.callcentric.com
The Strix Access/One OWS and IWS modular mesh products deliver the largest capacity (up to six radios and 768 users per node, three to six times the norm), highest throughput (five times the norm at 35 Mbps), and best scalability (users can add more radio boards, WiMAX modules, or new technologies). An independent wireless mesh test sponsored by Light Reading and completed in June 2006 found Strix’s OWS 2400-30 delivers the best throughput and capacity, the greatest scalability for voice applications, and the best mobility/roaming. Strix networks scale to 10 or more wireless hops with near-zero throughput loss and latency. Customers can deliver real-time applications with a minimum of wired connections for a given area, which reduces CapEx and OpEx.
Strix Systems is the proven worldwide leader in wireless mesh networking. Strix’s Access/One products are the industry’s only modular (chassis-based) mesh systems, delivering the highest throughput, lowest latency, greatest capacity and unparalleled scalability. This new generation of products provides the broadband mobility and reach to support voice, video, and data applications. Sold globally by a network of first-class distributors and integrators, Access/One solutions have been deployed in hundreds of networks worldwide, outdoor and indoor, for the service providers, metro, public safety, government, energy, transportation, hospitality, education, enterprise, and residential markets. For more information about Strix Systems, please visit www.strixsystems.com