16th February,2004

With "SkyMAX", Siemens presented one of the world's first end-to-end solutions for WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) radio networks at the 3GSM World Congress 2005. Behind WiMAX is the IEEE 802.16-2004 specification for wireless high-speed internet access developed by the WiMAX Forum. The SkyMAX base station and modems presented in Cannes support the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard for stationary IP-based broadband access. SkyMAX is already prepared for an upgrade to IEEE 802.16e, an extension of the standard for mobile use. The SkyMAX products will be available on the market in the second half of 2005.

“With SkyMAX we are helping our customers open up new market segments for high-speed internet access. Besides internet usage the new technology will be particularly attractive for mobile office applications as well as video and music downloading,” said Christoph Caselitz, President of Mobile Networks at Siemens Communications. “This radio technology is beneficial wherever laying cables is impractical or non economical. This makes WiMAX an extremely useful complementary technology to DSL and UMTS.”

SkyMAX flexibly adapts to diverse frequency channels from 1.75 to 14 MHz with adaptive modulation up to 64 levels thus delivering higher capacity than any other available product. Besides, SkyMAX sophisticated software optimizes system parameters for the different application traffic demand and user position within the cell, and can even assign different priorities to different user groups. Furthermore, due to its superior performance in terms of power and system gain, minimum SkyMAX base stations are needed to cover larger areas. This provides substantial CAPEX and OPEX reductions for the operators.

The SkyMAX family includes a choice of modems for different user groups: the plug-and-play modem for indoor usage is optimized for high-speed internet access and VoIP provisioning in small companies and private households, while the modem for business users, of the split type with outdoor transmit/receive unit, is optimized for maximum coverage and carrier class services.

Siemens Communications is one of the largest players in the global telecommunications industry. Siemens is the only provider in the market that offers its customers a full-range portfolio, from devices for end users to complex network infrastructures for enterprises and carriers as well as related services. Siemens Communications is the world’s innovation leader in convergent technologies, products and services for wireless, fixed and enterprise networks. It is the largest Group within Siemens and operates in more than 160 countries around the world. In fiscal 2004 (year-end September 30), its 60,000-strong workforce posted sales of approximately 18 billion euros.