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Airspan and Yozan Announce Major Expansion of Japan's First WiMAX Network

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 21:00 CST

In 2005, Airspan Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRN) announced the signing of agreements with Yozan Inc. (Jasdaq: 6830) to deploy a Tokyo-wide WiMAX network, valued at $16.7 million, to deliver high speed IP connectivity capable of a wide array of data service offerings. The companies today announced a further $26 million expansion to their contract, bringing its value to more than $42 million. Airspan expects to deliver between $5 million and $8 million of the total in the first quarter of 2006, with the balance by July.

Under the agreement, Airspan commenced deliveries of WiMAX equipment in the last quarter of 2005. Yozan was able to launch Japan's first WiMAX-based service in Tokyo on December 25, 2005. In February 2006, Yozan announced that it would extend WiMAX coverage to the whole Tokyo area, and that it intended to cover all of Nagoya and Osaka with a WiMAX network by the end of June 2006. On February 15th, the company also announced that it had received a license to conduct WiMAX access trials in Okayama, to ascertain the feasibility of offering WiMAX access in remote areas where fibre-based services were not possible. The trials are expected to run until March 2007.

Mr. Sunao Takatori, President and CEO of Yozan, stated: "The mutual strengths fortified through our ongoing partnership with Airspan provide us with great strides towards deploying Japan's largest wireless broadband network."

Henrik Smith-Petersen, President of Asia Pacific, Airspan, commented: "We are very excited to see the success Yozan is having with its WiMAX Metropolitan Area Network roll-out in Tokyo and looking forward to expand this to several other major cities throughout Japan in the near future."

About Yozan Inc.

Yozan is a telecom service operator in Tokyo, Japan, offering WiMAX-based wireless broadband and multicasting services. In December 2005 Yozan became the first operator in Japan to launch WiMAX services, amidst a growing trend in the telecom sector of leading companies advancing WiMAX initiatives.

The company currently provides 2 types of WiMAX services -- WiMAX Direct for corporate users demanding high-quality broadband services; and BitStand for individual subscribers. The company is continuing its aggressive network deployment to provide comprehensive service area coverage throughout the 23 wards of Tokyo -- with the goal to become the nation's largest wireless broadband service operator. In addition, Yozan offers Child Safety Monitoring services over the Vodafone network (specifically to local municipal government-clients) and AirBit Key services utilizing Yozan's own paging network. Future plans include service offerings based on an integration of PLC (Power Line Communications) and WiMAX, upon deregulation of rules scheduled in the third quarter of 2006; and 802.16e mobile WiMAX-based services scheduled for 2007. The company is focused on expanding its coverage area to contribute to a ubiquitous telecommunications environment.

More information on Yozan can be found at http://www.yozan.co.jp

About Airspan Networks Inc.

Airspan Networks provides fixed and wireless voice and data systems and solutions, including Voice Over IP (VoIP). Its wireless products serve operators around the world in both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands between 700 MHz and 6 GHz, including both PCS and 3.5GHz international bands. Airspan has a strong wireless product roadmap that includes offerings compliant with the new WiMAX 802.16-2004 standard, and software upgradeability to 802.16e from the time the WiMAX products are introduced. Airspan is on the Board and a founder member of the WiMAX Forum. Through its newly acquired Radionet division, the company also offers 802.11-based metrozone networks and applications for various enterprise vertical markets. The Company has deployments with more than 350 operators in more than 100 countries. Airspan's wireless systems are based on radio technology that delivers excellent area coverage, high security and resistance to fading. These systems can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, providing an attractive alternative to traditional wired communications networks. Airspan's new AS.Tone VoIP system is a carrier class, turnkey solution that provides carriers with Class 4, Class 5 and IP-Centrex solutions and has a Softswitch and Gateways supporting SIP/H323 and SIP. AS.Tone's design provides customers; carriers, next-generation telcos, cellular providers and ITSP with a wide range of solutions with the best price/performance system for IP telephony. Airspan also offers radio planning, network installation, integration, training and support services to facilitate the deployment and operation of its systems. Airspan is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with its main operations center in Uxbridge, United Kingdom.

More information on Airspan can be found at http://www.airspan.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates,""believes,""estimates,""expects,""intends,""may,""plans,""projects,""will,""would" and similar expressions or negative variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Investors and others are therefore cautioned that a variety of factors, including certain risks, may affect our business and cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, without limitation, (i) a slowdown of expenditures by communication service providers; (ii) increased competition from alternative communication systems; (iii) the failure of our existing or prospective customers to purchase products as projected; (iv) our inability to successfully implement cost reduction or containment programs; (v) a loss of any of our key customers; (vi) our ability to retain the largest existing customer of Nortel Network's fixed wireless business; and (vii) specific to this press release, Airspan's ability to successfully manufacture and deliver WiMAX to Yozan; Yozan's ability to deploy and operate the network; and Yozan's ability to pay for the network. The Company is subject to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No.1 on Form 10-K/A, for the year ended 31 December, 2004. You should read those factors as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this press release. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 For Investment inquiries, contact: Airspan Networks: Peter Aronstam Chief Financial Officer Tel: +1 561 893-8682 Fax: +1 561 893-8671 Email: Contact via http://www.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=6BB58F9A01819585  

SOURCE: Airspan Networks, Inc.

Source: MARKET WIRE

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