Press Releases

SkyPilot Networks Delivers Carrier-Class Wireless Broadband

Innovative Approach Addresses Capacity, Coverage, and Cost Hurdles

Chicago, Illinois - SUPERCOMM 2004 - June 22, 2004 - SkyPilot Networks, Inc., a global provider of next-generation wireless broadband network solutions, today unveiled its breakthrough SkyPilot system, a robust platform for carrier-grade broadband networks that enables carriers, service providers, enterprises, and network operators of any size to deploy tomorrow's high-bandwidth, low-latency applications today - at highly competitive price points.

By intelligently integrating its novel design and advances such as quality of service, network discovery, mesh routing and smart antenna technologies on a foundation of industry standard 802.11 silicon, SkyPilot Networks offers a sophisticated, yet flexible, system that supports high-capacity, high-coverage deployments in both non-line-of-sight and traditional line-of-sight environments while addressing the fundamental problem with today's wireline and wireless solutions: operator profitability.

"It all comes down to economics," said Mark B. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of SkyPilot. "Our focus is on building high-performance, cost-effective systems that solve our customer's problems today, whether they are extending their wireline infrastructure or looking for an end-to-end wireless solution. By using our software expertise to synchronize communications and building upon the company's deep experience in mesh routing and innovative RF design, SkyPilot is unique in being able to leverage today's economies of scale to deliver best of class performance in capacity, coverage, and cost."

Designed for deployment flexibility and operational simplicity, the SkyPilot system's advanced architecture features self-discovery, self-configuration, and self-optimization to maximize data rates and spectral efficiency as well as overall network capacity and reliability - in mesh, point-to-multipoint, and point-to-point topologies.

SkyPilot System Components
The SkyGateway basestation is the interface between the Internet and the SkyPilot System. SkyExtender units and mesh routing are used to extend the network infrastructure ensuring maximum coverage and scalability. Subscribers connect to the network with a choice of low-profile, plug-and-play devices: user-installable SkyConnector Indoor or Outdoor units. Every unit is self-contained and benefits from SkyPilot's specialized antenna design, high RF output power, and protocol synchronization to harness the excellent performance characteristics of the underlying Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology, resulting in optimal capacity and range.

With an intelligent Layer 2 distributed network architecture, quality of service, and VLAN support standard, the SkyPilot system enables subscriber data rates in excess of 3Mbps throughout the network while still providing multiple tiers of service and the necessary support for demanding applications like Voice over IP (VoIP) and video. In addition, SkyPilot provides advanced, standards-based provisioning and element management systems, SkyProvision and SkyControl, which dramatically reduce the complexities and costs of deploying, monitoring and managing a broadband network.

"The SkyPilot system is well suited to address the capacity, coverage and cost issues that currently hamper the industry, as it offers carriers and small operators alike many of the benefits of 802.16 with an 802.11 solution that is years ahead on the cost curve," noted Andy Fuertes, Senior Analyst with Visant Strategies. "And since SkyPilot's focus is integrating their software and RF expertise on industry standards, their approach should serve their customers well as 802.16 and other standards progress down the price curve and are adopted by the industry and the company."

Availability
The SkyPilot system is available for the 5.8 GHz frequency band worldwide and may be configured and ordered directly from SkyPilot Networks by contacting sales@skypilot.com or (866) SKYPILOT, and it will be available in August.

The SkyPilot system is being shown at the SkyPilot Networks Booth #13511A at SUPERCOMM 2004 as part of the Telecommunications® Magazine 10 Hottest Technologies Pavilion from June 22 - 24.

About SkyPilot Networks
SkyPilot Networks is a leading provider of carrier-class broadband wireless systems that enable carriers, service providers, and municipalities 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 Networks is a principal member of the WiMAX ForumT and is a privately held company based in Santa Clara, California. For more information on SkyPilot and its solutions, contact pr@skypilot.com or visit http://www.skypilot.com.