Navini Networks and Pronto Networks 
Partner to Deliver Wide-Area Wireless Broadband

True End-to-End Wireless Integration of Hot Spots Into 'Hot Zones'

    Navini Networks, Inc. and Pronto Networks announced a partnership for providing an economical end-to-end solution for service providers wishing to deploy numerous hot spots in large coverage areas, creating "hot zones." Integrating the Pronto Hotspot Networking System with Navini's Ripwave(TM) wireless WAN (WWAN) solution allows service providers to set up hundreds of hot spots virtually anywhere within an area of up to 500 square miles using one Navini Ripwave base station for backhaul and individual Pronto Hotspot Controllers at each hot spot location.

    According to a recent Gartner study, the number of worldwide hot spots is expected to grow from 1,000 at year-end 2001 to more than 21,000 by year-end 2004. In order to achieve this scale, however, the economics of backhaul solutions must be addressed, as in the Navini/Pronto partnership.

    Navini, the leading provider of zero-install(TM), nomadic, non-line-of- sight wireless broadband technology, announced last month an initiative for interconnectivity with various devices; this announcement is just one of the results of that vision. This partnership agreement lays the foundation for the development of multi-mode devices that would allow seamless roaming between the companies' wireless LAN (WLAN) and WWAN networks. Devices such as a multi-mode PCMCIA card will allow a user to maintain connectivity in a large hot zone as they move in and out of hot spot coverage.

    Pronto Networks is the leading provider of infrastructure solutions for public hot spots. Pronto's core technology, Hotspot Networking System, consists of the Hotspot OSS/BSS server software and the Hotspot Controller. The Hotspot OSS/BSS software controls all authentication, billing, pre-paid card generation, credit card processing, roaming settlement, etc. for geographically dispersed hot spots from a centralized Network Operations Center (NOC). Pronto's Hotspot Controller is a highly integrated, small foot print access device deployed at the hot spot location and is remotely managed and monitored from the NOC. Together, these two elements provide a scalable, end-to-end solution for managing and monitoring thousands of hot spots.

    "One of the big issues impacting hot spot providers today is scalability," stated Jasbir Singh, CEO of Pronto Networks. "Putting up a Navini base station in a given area gives the provider an almost unlimited array of options in terms of hot spot locations, and is ultimately less expensive than running fiber or T1s to each hot spot location. The economics really start making sense."

    "Pronto's billing and authentication services are huge value-added features for the service provider and its customers," stated Alastair Westgarth, president and CEO of Navini Networks. "Combining the benefits of the Pronto Hotspot Networking System with the range of the Navini Ripwave non- line-of-sight, zero-install WAN solution allows service providers to easily scale hot spot deployments, while providing the end-user seamless broadband coverage in a much larger area."

    Pronto Networks is demonstrating the Pronto Hotspot Networking System at booth #503 at the 802.11 Planet Conference, December 3 - 5 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California. Pronto's Director of Server Development, Raj Sundar, will be speaking on a panel addressing Hardware & Back-End Systems for Instant Hotspots on Thursday, December 5th at 2:45 pm.

    About Navini Networks
    Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, the heart of the Telecom Corridor, Navini Networks offers patented wireless broadband technology that addresses the world's need and desire for high-speed Internet access. Navini was founded by successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur Wu-Fu Chen and industry expert Dr. Guanghan Xu, and provides nomadic, zero-install, non-line-of-sight infrastructure to allow for anytime, anywhere Web access. Navini Networks' Ripwave products consist of a customer modem, base station, and element management system (EMS) and run in the 2.4 GHz ISM and 2.5/2.6 GHz MMDS spectrums. Navini's solution results in a price/performance combination that is superior to other broadband offerings in the marketplace. To date, Navini has received $66.5 million in funding from top-tier investors such as Austin Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Sternhill Partners, and Granite Ventures. For more information on Navini, please visit http://www.navini.com .

    About Pronto Networks
    Based in Emeryville, CA, Pronto Networks develops and markets wireless turnkey solutions for hot spot network operators. Pronto's hot spot solution is being rolled out in over 1000 locations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. The company has offices in London, UK and Bangalore, India. For more information, visit http://www.prontonetworks.com

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