Wi-LAN Wins in Middle EastWi-LAN Wins in Middle East

Wi-LAN receives $500,000 in orders for its wireless brodband access products from Gold Channel Partners and distributors in Oman and Saudi Arabia

April 22, 2004

4 Min Read

CALGARY, AB -- Wi-LAN Inc. (TSE:WIN), a global provider of broadband wireless communication products and technologies, announced today purchase orders for its broadband wireless products in the amount of $500,000 from its Gold Channel Partners and distributors in Oman and Saudi Arabia. Customers include Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), a hydrocarbon exploration and production company in the Sultanate of Oman, another major oil company and several wireless Internet Service Providers (ISP's). Shipments are expected to be completed in April and May 2004. Products ordered are Wi-LAN's VIP 110-24, Ultima3 and LIBRA 5800, based respectively on Wi-LAN's patented VINE, MC-DSSS and W-OFDM technologies.

"This is an exciting expansion of Wi-LAN's growing installed base in the Middle East region," said Nico Roelofsen, vice president of global sales, Wi-LAN Inc. "Wi-LAN is continuing its expansion in the Middle East oil and emerging wireless ISP sectors. There is a growing need for our reliable high throughput, multipoint and long range broadband wireless systems in the region. Our broadband wireless systems coupled with our unique CONTINUITY PROGRAMTM satisfy the growing corporate customer demands in the Middle East and provide a solid migration path to WiMAX Certified(1) solutions in 2005. It's great to see a steady increase in Wi-LAN's sales in this developing wireless market."

Available in license-exempt and licensed frequency bands, Wi-LAN's broadband wireless access products are certified for deployment in most countries worldwide. Wi-LAN products are designed for commercial outdoor broadband wireless networks and are ideal for high-density non-line-of-sight (NLOS) point-to-multipoint configurations, medium-density ad-hoc networks, and long-distance point-to-point backhaul applications.

"The VIP110-24 and Ultima3 products, with their leading-edge VINE and MC-DSSS technology and their multipoint extended range, have proven highly reliable", said Mr. Ajay Kapoor, General Manager of OHI Telecommunications Co. LLC, a Wi-LAN Gold Channel Partner in Oman. "These products have provided us with a significant competitive advantage in open international tender bids in the Oman wireless market."

"So far we have deployed the VIP110-24 on several rigs here in PDO. We are continuing the roll-out here and our target is to cover many of our semi-mobile well engineering facilities," said David Osemwegie, Senior Project Engineer, PDO. "Reliability and range has been very good for both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint configurations, and we are considering the VIP110-24 for much bigger things here, if it can 'hold it's own' in terms of long term reliability and performance."

Customers who deploy Wi-LAN's LIBRA product line are protected by Wi-LAN's CONTINUITY PROGRAM. The core of the CONTINUITY PROGRAM is Wi-LAN's commitment that any current LIBRA Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) will operate side by side, in the same network, the same cell and even the same sector with future WiMAX Certified CPE's. The CONTINUITY PROGRAM will minimize network and revenue disruption and protect customers' investment in current technology when networks are transitioned to WiMAX compliant equipment. The CONTINUITY PROGRAM offers Wi-LAN customers a solid migration path to Wi-LAN's Wi-MAX Certified systems, which are expected to be available in the first half of 2005.

"Wi-LAN's LIBRA 5800, Ultima3 & VIP 110-24 products are ideal for our region's emerging wireless ISP's that are demanding reliable, long range, high throughput multipoint solutions," said Mr. Khalid Al Suwaidi, president of Al Suwaidi Holding Company, a Wi-LAN Gold Channel Partner in Saudi Arabia. "We have already deployed large volumes of VIP and Ultima3 products in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar in remote desert locations and over the Gulf waters. As well, IMT, our IT systems integration company, is very happy with the superb performance of the new LIBRA 5800 system and the added benefit of its CONTINUITY PROGRAM and we expect more high volume LIBRA sales over the next few months."

"I am delighted with the continuing success of our Middle East Channel Partners in winning new significant ISP customers that will guarantee a steady flow of orders from the region and also in winning new enterprise opportunities in open tender bids against our competitors," said Hassan Abdelghany, Wi-LAN Sales Director for Middle East and Central Asia. "I congratulate them and thank them for their efforts in making Wi-LAN the household name when it comes to delivering reliable broadband wireless access with a solid migration path to WiMAX Certified solutions."

Wi-LAN Inc.

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