Excelsio Communications offers WiMAX (802.16) planning and consulting services to firms that have an interest in commercializing WiMAX wireless broadband technologies. Excelsio will consult with the client to determine what aspect(s) of WiMAX need to be developed and how to best fulfill those needs. Our experience in modeling wireless networks, in deploying wireless broadband systems and in consulting for operators enables us to provide very current knowledge of the WiMAX market opportunity.

Following is an overview of several aspects of WiMAX as you consider the potential impact of this technology on your business.

WiMAX Background: WiMAX is a new world standard for low-cost, high performance wireless broadband networks. Companies like Intel, AT&T, France Telecom, XO, Fujitsu, Alvarion, Motorola and other global industry players have joined the WiMAX Forum and plan to produce equipment in conformance with the new standard.

One of the main goals of WiMAX is to make high-quality, long range data and voice communications affordable. Today a laptop can function wirelessly in a small coffee shop with WiFi access. With the mobile version of WiMAX (802.16e), that same laptop would function outdoors even though it is receiving a signal from a base station a mile away.

Technology Improvements: WiMAX will introduce several advantages over existing wireless systems that make it a much stronger business consideration:

• Distance: Increases in both point-to-point range and point-to-multipoint range are significant and translate to more customer connections using less radio gear. A cell radius of 1/8 -1/4 miles with WiFi mesh gear will increase to 3-5 miles with WiMAX gear depending on the choice of frequency, topography and other factors.

• Throughput: The standard is expected to deliver upwards of 40mbps – 50mbps net throughput per radio, far exceeding today’s access point products. If a cell site utilizes four access points, it could deliver up to 160mbps – 200mbps to customers.

• Interoperability: WiMAX ushers in a new era in how outdoor broadband networks are planned and operated. Since components will be interoperable between vendors, the risks associated with deploying proprietary systems decrease significantly.

• Quality of Service (QoS): WiMAX systems have standardized QoS functionality and features built-in which enable carriers to offer business-class services to their customers.

• Cost of CPE: The cost of the customer premise equipment (modem) at the home or business will drop significantly over time. Today, since all systems are proprietary, costs are unnecessarily high.

• Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS): Many of today’s proprietary outdoor wireless radio systems require a line-of-sight (LOS) link between the access point and consumer modem. The WiMAX standard features a 256 carrier OFDM technology which significantly enhances the NLOS capabilities of the radio. This allows the operator to support more customers per cell site due to better signal penetration.

• No Truck Roll: The advent of WiMAX-enabled laptops and PDAs in combination with mesh networking technologies (and smart antenna systems) will make it possible to provide “no truck roll” service, thus reducing operational expenditures and improving the total ROI.

Applications: WiMAX will enable an increased number of customer applications because of its quality, distance and throughput improvements. Applications include the delivery of data, VoIP and streaming video. Services can be delivered via a fixed connection to the customer premise or via a portable modem device. True wireless DSL-type services and true low-cost T1 quality replacement services can be delivered via WiMAX enabled networks as well as cellular backhaul and WiFi backhaul.

Frequency Bands: The first markets to offer WiMAX will be countries that use the 3.5GHz frequency band, such as Europe, Asia, Russia and the Far East. In the US, initial deployments are expected to use the licensed 2.5 GHz and unlicensed 5.8GHz frequency band.

Profitability: WiMAX allows carriers to attain a new level of profitability due to the quality, increased throughput, distance, lower operating costs and lower CPE costs. Excelsio can assist your firm in developing financial plans to accurately reflect these performance improvements.

Market Timing: According to most industry watchers, WiMAX will initially be offered in non-US markets in mid 2005 and is expected to be available in the US in late 2006 or early 2007. In April 2005, Intel announced the release of its Rosedale chip, the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5116. Interoperability testing for 3.5 GHz products began in Spain in July 2005. The July 2006 announcement of the mobile WiMAX chip, the Rosedale II, should spark the development of 802.16e client devices which are set to appear in the Mid-2007 timeframe.

The major development of 2008 was the pending Sprint/Clearwire merger, which will accelerate the deployment of a nationwide mobile WiMAX network. Another significant development is the announcement by Intel of the Montevina platform, which will offer multi-mode Wi-Fi/WiMAX adapters including a single Wi-Fi (802.11n) if needed.

2009 saw the deployment of more than 25 mobile WiMAX networks by Clearwire and other deployments by service providers such as Digital Bridge. Also a host of new WiMAX enabled devices including Netbooks and handsets has driven subscriber adoption in mobile WiMAX markets.

Below is a list of consulting and planning services Excelsio can provide your firm as you consider how to commercialize WiMAX technology.

• Business Planning: Assist clients in the development of a business plan for a wireless data and voice offering for residential and business customers in its market areas. Excelsio has worked with many carriers that have developed similar networks and has unique insights into how these businesses are structured and operated.

• Financial Modeling: Excelsio has developed an extensive financial planning model that has been used by many operators to help them determine business viability. This model has recently been modified to take into account the technology improvements of WiMAX. The model has over 100 unique inputs to help drive IRR and cash flow and other critical operating metrics. Excelsio will customize the planning model to your unique environment as well as provide input from our real-world deployments, industry experience, and experience modeling similar networks.

• Technology Assessment: We assist operators and providers in determining the right technology to use for the particular application and customer market including mesh systems, point-to-point systems, WiMAX and WiFi networks. As part of this process we assist with the entire network model including network backhaul architecture, security, customer premise equipment (CPE), network management systems, access points, voice services, and back office management tools. We also provide comprehensive hardware & application matrices based on the client’s requirements.

• Project Planning: Provide detailed project planning documentation as well as project planning management between vendors, customer and other suppliers for each market

• Business Development: Identify and qualify broadband service providers, network aggregators, wireless application providers and other entities with which carriers may partner to offer services in it market areas based upon Excelsio’s extensive network of contacts in the wireless broadband arena.

Contact Excelsio Communications at (678) 884 9625 or kedwards@excelsiocomm.com to discuss how we can assist you in developing your broadband initiative.