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TROPOS
NETWORKS SURPASSES 125 METRO-SCALE WI-FI CUSTOMERS AND EXPECTS
RAPID GROWTH IN WORLDWIDE MARKET FOR 2005 |
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More Than 40 Partners
Now Work with the Company in Eight Countries for Public Safety,
Consumer Internet Access and Economic Development Applications
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SUNNYVALE, CA - January 6, 2005 -- Tropos Networks Inc., the leading supplier of equipment used
to build metro-scale Wi-Fi mesh networks, today announced the
culmination of a banner year of customer deployments, partner
sign-ups and industry recognition. |
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In 2004, the company garnered more than 125 installed customers worldwide, providing metro-scale Wi-Fi service in such cities as Philadelphia, PA; Los Angeles, CA; Franklin, TN; Chaska, MN; Corpus Christi, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Oklahoma City, OK; Tokyo, Japan; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Khandahar, Afghanistan; and Doha, Qatar. Based on current RFP activity and market interest around the world, Tropos expects several hundred percent growth in the market in 2005. In addition to customer growth, the company also summarized a number of executive additions, key partnerships, and industry awards for the year. |
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“We are exceptionally pleased with
the customer and market interest from around the world, for
applications ranging from mobile access to police databases
to video surveillance to residential Internet access and voice-over-Wi-Fi,”
said Ron Sege, President and CEO of Tropos Networks. “In
2004, metro-scale Wi-Fi mesh and its many profound economic
and public policy benefits became a market and technical reality.
Given the wide variety of customer inquiries from many geographies,
2005 will be the year when metro-scale Wi-Fi hits the mainstream.”
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“In the last 12 months, interest in
deploying metro-scale wireless broadband networks around the
world has grown dramatically, based on inquiries to our web
site,” said Esme Vos, founder and CEO of muniwireless.com.
“Because Tropos is already deployed in so many cities,
it is not surprising that they continue to be at the top of
the list of many municipal and carrier customers.” |
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As a general-purpose and widely-available broadband Internet access technology, Wi-Fi supports a very wide range of metro-scale applications and is extremely low-cost, highly reliable and easy-to-install and to use. In Chaska, MN, for example, the Tropos system is making DSL-speed internet access available to all the residents within the 16 square-mile city limits for a cost of only $15.99 per month. More than 2,000 subscribers, representing 20% of the households in town are now using the network, only 3 months after installation. In Corpus Christi, TX, the 60 square mile metro-scale Wi-Fi system is providing automated meter-reading, access to crime and geographic databases for first responders and automated services for municipal workers such as building inspectors. Philadelphia, PA, will use their network to, among other things, address digital divide issues and accelerate economic development. In Doha, the Tropos system is providing traffic management via an automatic video-based surveillance and citation system. |
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The company cited other accomplishments
during 2004, including: |
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The Addition of Blue
Chip Partners and Executives
Significant partnerships were forged with market leaders
such as Hewlett Packard, Motorola, NTT Broadband Platform
and NTT Communications along with key regional and segment-leader
partnerships including ACS, Airpath, Boingo, Cheetah Wireless
Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Padcom, Pronto Networks,
Redmoon, Verge Wireless and Viasys, among others.
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The company also attracted top flight
executives, board members and blue chip partners to sell
and support the Tropos Wi-Fi system as it enters a new
phase of worldwide growth. Three industry veterans and
key players were added to the executive team: Ron Sege
as President and CEO, Francois Le as Vice President of
Carrier and International Sales, and Mike Bailey as VP
of Operations. Also, former FCC chairman Reed Hundt joined
the Board of Directors and former Congressman and HUD
Secretary Jack Kemp was appointed head of the advisory
committee. |
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Industry and Technology Recognition
Tropos was recognized by the Wall Street Journal in their
First Annual Innovator Awards, and, just this month, received
the Top 100 Innovators award from Red Herring Magazine.
In addition, Tropos received the MobileTrax Mobility Award
for the Tropos 5110 Wi-Fi Cell, was cited by Telecommunications’
Magazine as one of the Coolest New Companies in 2004,
and received the Wi-Fi Planet Conference and Expo Best
of Show Award for the Tropos 5110 Wi-Fi cell. |
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“This great finish to 2004 provides
a strong foundation for taking advantage of many new market
opportunities next year,” Sege added. “We look forward
to an exciting 2005.” |
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About Tropos Networks, Inc.
Tropos Networks, Inc. is the leading supplier of systems used
to build metro-scale, outdoor Wi-Fi networks. Tropos’
unique Wi-Fi cells, along with the first element manager to
control large Wi-Fi networks, enable public agencies and service
providers to deliver ubiquitous, city-wide mobile broadband
to users in any locale. These carrier-class IP networks are
low cost and easy to install and scale. The Tropos cellular
mesh architecture and use of optimized open-standard radios
dramatically reduce the need for wired backhaul while eliminating
expensive proprietary clients and complex software. Using the
patented Predictive Wireless Routing Protocol, Tropos solutions
deliver maximum bandwidth to the user regardless of conditions,
at unprecedented Wi-Fi network scale. Tropos Networks is headquartered
in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit
www.tropos.com,
call 408-331-6800 or write to
info@tropos.com. |
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Tropos Networks, Tropos and PWRP are trademarks
of Tropos Networks, Inc. All other brand or product names are
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holder(s). |
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