DragonWave Backhauls Yota's WiMax

OTTAWA -- DragonWave Inc. (TSX: DWI) a leading global supplier of packet microwave radio systems for mobile and access networks, today announced Yota has deployed DragonWave’s Horizon Compact in extending Russia’s first 4G network to regions beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg. The DragonWave solution supports 400 Mbps capable links for backhaul of Yota Mobile WiMAX services for business and residential users.

“This is a very large, innovative network, and we’ve invested heavily in promoting our Yota brand. We absolutely could not afford to resort to yesterday’s technologies in rolling out state-of-the-art, mobile broadband access to our customers,” said Dmitry Privalov, Head of Department for Radio Optimization with Yota. “The Horizon Compact is a the industry standard-bearer for performance and flexibility, and DragonWave is constantly innovating its solutions to keep its customers ideally positioned for emerging opportunities. We feel the Horizon Compact is the perfect platform on which to establish Russia’s first 4G network.”

Yota, Russia’s first provider of high-speed wireless Internet, launched in 2007 and selected DragonWave as its supplier of packet microwave radio systems after a successful trial of the Horizon Compact in 2008. The Yota services began commercial operations in June 2009. Yota is already one of the world’s largest and most advanced mobile WiMAX networks. Together with its unlimited high speed internet service, Yota offers online music, TV and video services to its subscribers. The Horizon Compact, a small, 22.86cm-square, all-outdoor unit integrating all traditional indoor and outdoor backhaul functionality provides transport of up to 800 Mbps per link.

“Within two and a half months of beginning commercial operations, Yota already have 100,000 active users. This is obviously one of the world’s most aggressive network operators, and we are thrilled to have been chosen to be one of Yota’s strategic partners,” said Peter Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer of DragonWave. “The Horizon Compact’s track record for successfully enabling mobile 4G networks is growing globally.”

DragonWave Horizon products operate in both licensed and unlicensed radio frequencies between 6 and 38 GHz. An uncompromised product design delivers pure “packet” microwave performance with software scalable, ultra-low latency transport of up to 1.6 Gbps per link. Extremely easy to deploy and manage, DragonWave products deliver carrier-grade (99.999%) interference-free performance in next-generation IP networks.

DragonWave Inc. (AIM/Toronto: DWI; Nasdaq: DRWI)

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