RADIONET, ITACA and HISPASAT Provide Wi-Fi to 540 Schools in Chile




Combination of satellite and wireless broadband brings Internet cost-effectively to remote schools and villages across Chile

Santiago de Chile & Helsinki, Finland, -/25 Feb, 2005 - Wi-Fi Technology News/- Radionet Ltd, a leading supplier of Wireless Hotzone technology, announced that it will together with its systems integrator partner ITACA Canarias and the satellite communication services provider Hispasat embark on a major initiative to bring wireless broadband internet connections to 540 schools and villages across Chile, from Tierra Del Fuego up to the Andes.

The project was commissioned by the communications authority of Chile, Subtel (Subsecreter?a de Telecomunicaciones), and receives funding from the Government of Chile and the World Bank. ITACA will provide Hispasat?s high-speed satellite broadband Internet connections to 540 schools across Chile that would otherwise not have access to the Internet. Radionet?s technology creates a wireless Hotzone network around the school and brings wireless Internet connections to everyone with a Wi-Fi standards based laptop, PDA or a smart phone. ITACA is responsible for designing, building and operating the networks.

?Chile?s geography with its huge distances and height differences poses a unique challenge for bringing broadband Internet to remote communities. The combination of Wi-Fi Hotzone and satellite technology enables us to bring broadband Internet access to communities, which are hard to reach and where traditional landline technologies would otherwise be too costly to implement?, said Carlos Zuniga, CEO, ITACA Canarias.

?Radionet?s standards-based technology creates a seamless Wi-Fi cloud and distributes the Internet connection to other areas in the village from the satellite link. This enables users with any Wi-Fi compliant devices such as PDA?s and almost all laptop computers to effortlessly connect to the network?, said Markus Bj?rkqvist, VP, Sales and Marketing, Radionet.

The project was started in the beginning of February and the first phase is scheduled to be completed in June.

The networks in Chile mark Radionet?s entry into the South American market. Initially, Radionet will provide equipment to 15 village?s networks with additional installations expected to rise to 80 villages by June. The networks feature high-speed 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi technology for end-user access and utilize Radionet RN-900 access routers and PlanAir antennas for connecting users to the network.

About ITACA Canarias
ITACA Canarias is a Las Palmas based IT Systems integrator that offers products, services and solutions in the areas of Telecommunications, Internet via satellite, fixed wireless and Internet services. More information on the web at http://www.itacacanarias.com

About Hispasat
Hispasat aims at playing as a global satellite communications operator, leading the Spanish and portuguese markets, and developing businesses in America, Europe and North Africa. HISPASAT, which was founded as a state initiative, has both evolved and developed over time and in unison with its shareholders who, in 1996, initiated their respective privatization processes. Hispasat operates 4 Satellites (1A,1B,1C,1D) and manages two orbit positions over the Atlantic Region (30? W and 61? W).

About Radionet
The Wi-Fi Hotzone company Radionet specializes in the development, design and sales of large-scale outdoor wireless broadband networks. Radionet's technology is based on the WLAN standard conforming to IEEE 802.11. Radionet offers comprehensive carrier-class wireless broadband networks for operators, ISP?s and wireless ISP?s, power utilities, industry and logistics, and system integrators. http://www.radionet.com

For further information, please contact:

Radionet
Markus Bj?rkqvist, VP, Sales and Marketing
Tel. +358 40 535 0688
markus.bjorkqvist@radionet.com