SkyPilot Networks Chooses Fujitsu System-on-Chip for New Generation WiMAX Mesh Networking Solution

SkyPilot is the First to Announce Plans to Bring Mesh Networking to WiMAX

SANTA CLARA, Calif. and SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Sept. 19, 2005 -- SkyPilot Networks, a leading provider of carrier-class broadband wireless systems, and Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc., a leading provider of robust wireline and wireless solutions that boost next-generation communications networks in North America, today announced that SkyPilot has selected the Fujitsu WiMAX System-on-Chip (SoC) for a new generation of systems that will bring sophisticated mesh networking to WiMAX deployments. As the first company to announce plans to add mesh networking to WiMAX infrastructures, SkyPilot will provide multi-hop, multi-link, multi-path, and multi-base station connectivity that offers a breadth of coverage, performance, and fault-tolerance capabilities not available with point-to-multipoint deployments.

SkyPilot will leverage its proven Synchronous Mesh Protocol (SMP) to quickly bring industry-leading mesh functionality to the WiMAX market. SkyPilot's SMP has been deployed by over 120 customers in more than 30 countries in just the last 9 months.

"Our existing broadband wireless mesh architecture is extremely well suited to support evolving WiMAX standards," said Brian Jenkins, vice president of product management at SkyPilot. "The SkyPilot systems that our service provider customers are deploying in production mesh networks already include most of the technologies defined by WiMAX, including the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation technique and the time-division duplex (TDD) transmission protocol. With the Fujitsu WiMAX SoC, we're leveraging a high-performance chip with the flexibility to incorporate our Synchronous Mesh Protocol while maintaining compatibility with standards-based WiMAX clients."

SkyPilot's WiMAX mesh networking plans provide significant advantages over the current multitude of point-to-multipoint solutions. While SkyPilot's sectorized antenna architecture mirrors the benefits of point-to-multipoint topologies in terms of distance and performance, it also delivers the benefits of mesh networking, which include:

Close proximity via "picocells" for increased subscriber performance
Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) operation via mesh routing around obstructions
Easily expandable coverage areas
Scalable network capacity
Fault tolerance with failover routing
Load balancing and traffic segmentation
Highly flexible network design
Subscriber mobility throughout mesh
Automatic discovery for lower OPEX
Single, integrated network to manage.

"The numerous benefits of SkyPilot's WiMAX mesh networking solution should trigger considerable carrier interest in this unique architecture," said Lindsay Schroth, senior analyst of broadband access technologies from the Yankee Group. "SkyPilot's elegant combination of sectorized antennas and synchronous mesh protocol provides a robust, flexible, and scalable solution. And, when combined with WiMAX, it provides an interoperable, carrier-class solution with tremendous advantages for network operators."

SkyPilot is working with the Fujitsu MB87M3400 SoC to provide WiMAX mesh networking infrastructure solutions for the 2.3-2.7 GHz, 3.3-3.8 GHz, and 5.x GHz frequency bands. The SkyPilot product line will provide dual interoperability for standard Wi-Fi and WiMAX clients and will maintain SkyPilot's heritage of superior RF management through interference mitigation and spectral reuse.

The Fujitsu MB87M3400 uses an OFDM 256 PHY that supports channels from 1.75 MHz up to 20 MHz, and can operate in TDD or FDD modes, with support for all available channel bandwidths. A programmable frequency selection generates the sample clock for any desired bandwidth. When applying 64QAM modulation in a 20 MHz channel and using all 192 sub-carriers, the SoC's data rate can go up to 75 Mbps. Uplink sub-channelization is also supported.

"SkyPilot is optimizing the advanced functionality and flexibility of the Fujitsu WiMAX SoC and applying it to an innovative mesh architecture," said Keith Horn, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Fujitsu Microelectronics America. "Fujitsu is excited to be adding SkyPilot to our ecosystem of leading WiMAX equipment suppliers, who are working together to ensure system interoperability."

SkyPilot and Fujitsu Microelectronics America will be at the WiMAX World Conference in Boston, MA, from October 26-28 (http://www.wimaxworld.com/overview.htm).

About Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) leads the industry in innovation. FMA provides high-quality, reliable semiconductor products and services for the networking, communications, automotive, security and other markets throughout North and South America. As a founding and board member of the WiMAX Forum(TM), Fujitsu supports the standards development and compliance programs that are essential to successful Broadband Wireless deployment. Fujitsu provides performance-driven WiMAX solutions by leveraging the company's experience and expertise in the networking and communications markets. Fujitsu offers flexible WiMAX SoC and reference designs for WiMAX-certifiable systems to equipment vendors. For more product information, please visit the company's web site at http://us.fujitsu.com/micro/WiMAX or send e-mail to inquiry.bwa@fma.fujitsu.com

About SkyPilot Networks

SkyPilot Networks is a leading provider of carrier-class broadband wireless systems that enable carriers, network operators, and service providers of all sizes to easily deploy cost-effective last-mile voice and data services. The SkyPilot solution offers quick time-to-revenue and a compelling return-on-investment by extending reach, routing around obstacles, and increasing deployment flexibility, thereby dramatically reducing equipment and operating costs. The SkyPilot products provide a highly scalable and reliable wireless mesh network with a choice of subscriber access options. SkyPilot is a principal member of the WiMAX Forum(TM) and a privately held company based in Santa Clara, California. For more information on SkyPilot and its solutions or visit http://www.skypilot.com .

Trademark Notice: All product names and company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective firms.