Powerwave Deploys World’s Largest Indoor Wireless Coverage System for Mobily in Mecca

Many of the 2.4 million pilgrims who visited the holy city of Mecca in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this past December for the annual Hajj season – or those who reside in or visited the Al-Bait Towers at King Abdul Aziz Endowment – benefited from uninterrupted access to wireless voice and data services, accomplished courtesy of a state-of-the-art in-building wireless coverage system designed by Powerwave Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:PWAV), a global source of wireless infrastructure solutions.

The deployment is the world’s largest indoor wireless coverage system. With more than 1.4 million square-meters of built-up floor space, the King Abdul Aziz Endowment, located adjacent to the Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram (The Sacred or Grand Mosque) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is considered the largest collection of buildings in the world. Renderings of the complex, and a documentary on the history of the project, can be viewed at the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Website (http://www.jiwar.com.sa/en/endowment.htm).

In 2008, Powerwave and its Saudi Arabian business partner, Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems Co. Ltd. (ACES), were selected by Mobily Saudi Arabia, the second largest wireless operator in the Middle East, to deploy a wireless coverage system inside four of the seven towers currently comprising the King Abdul Aziz Endowment. The initial phase of this multi-million Dollar system deployment also includes wireless coverage for the venue’s shopping center featuring 450 shops and restaurants, and six-floor underground parking garage. Phase II and Phase III, slated for completion in 2009, will bring wireless coverage to four additional buildings, and a skyscraper at the center of the complex.

"Powerwave is honored to support wireless communications in this most sacred of venues,” said Mr. Ronald J. Buschur, president and CEO, Powerwave Technologies, Inc. "Not only does Mecca have the distinction of being one of the holiest places in the world, the complex also is phenomenal from an architectural perspective, being adjacent to the Grand Mosque ‘Masjid Al-Haram,’ which is considered the world’s largest building in terms of built space. And its wireless system also is distinctive – primarily in that it is the largest indoor wireless coverage system of its kind in the world.

"Due to an aggressive deployment timeline driven by the start of the holy month of Ramadan on Sept. 1, 2008, the King Adbul Aziz Endowment has been, by far, Powerwave’s most ambitious project to date,” continued Buschur. "Our local partner, ACES, demonstrated true professional experience in engineering and project management, best practice process and management systems, total end-to-end project delivery and close client coordination. By leveraging ACES’ strengths and Powerwave’s collective broad-based experience in the deployment of wireless coverage solutions for complex indoor and outdoor environments worldwide, including airports, trains and subway systems, tunnels and sports arenas, the Powerwave-ACES team was able to meet our customer’s needs, paramount of which was to quickly deliver access to wireless communications services.”

"We are very pleased to partner with Powerwave Technologies in bringing a state-of-the-art wireless coverage system that can support the wireless needs of the tenants and visitors to the King Abdul Aziz Endowment,” said Mr. Akram Aburas, Chief Executive Officer, Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems Co. Ltd.

"We have leveraged Powerwave’s antenna and repeater solutions in other projects, and have been very impressed by their ability to deliver end-to-end wireless coverage systems that use far fewer components than competitive solutions, which translates into ease of deployment and maintenance, improved reliability, performance and cost-effectiveness,” said Prof. Khalid Al-Mashouq, Chief Technology Officer, for ACES.

The system is based on Powerwave’s Nexus™ FT high-power, triple-band fiber optic repeaters, which feature a modular and robust design that is easy to install, supports multi-carrier and multi-band operation, and offers high capacity and long-reach signal distribution. By leveraging Powerwave Nexus FT repeaters, the coverage system at the King Abdul Aziz Endowment uses fewer repeaters and one-third fewer antennas than competitive solutions.

Other coverage system components, which reside outside of public view, include a fiber optic conversion module located within the centralized Base Station Hotel. Using a common fiber-optic and coaxial backbone among the operators, the system is highly efficient and provides substantial cost savings over other competing solutions due to fewer initial infrastructure requirements and maintenance routines, shorter installation times, and more streamlined technology upgrades.

Phase one of Powerwave’s wireless coverage system deployment at the King Abdul Aziz Endowment currently supports GSM900, GSM1800 and GSM2100 commercial wireless frequencies. "We are very pleased with the performance and reliability of the wireless coverage solution deployed by ACES in partnership with Powerwave Technologies,” said Mr. Nasser Al-Nasser, D-CTO of Mobily Saudi Arabia. "The first phase of the project has been a resounding success, and we look forward to partnering with them on the subsequent phases of this project.”

In addition the King Abdul Aziz Endowment, Powerwave has expertise in creating wireless coverage systems for large venues such as the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; the Moscone Center in San Francisco; and the 55-story high-rise Torre Mayor in Mexico City.

About Powerwave Technologies

A global leader in end-to-end wireless coverage and capacity solutions, Powerwave Technologies, Inc. offers cutting edge wireless infrastructure to address the demands of enterprise and commercial customers. Powerwave offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, including Antennas, Base Station Solutions and Coverage Solutions. Powerwave’s product line supports all wireless network protocols and frequencies including Next Generation Networks in 4G technology such as WiMAX and LTE. Powerwave solutions, products and services also help wireless operators and OEMs reduce capital and operating expenses, speed rollout of services, improve coverage and capacity, and reduce environmental impact. For more information, visit us at www.powerwave.com. Powerwave, Powerwave Technologies and the Powerwave logo are registered trademarks of Powerwave Technologies, Inc.

About ACES

Advanced Communications & Electronic Systems Co., Ltd. is an industry leader in providing total solutions in the area of telecommunications and information technology inn the Middle East region. ACES has been and is at the forefront of building telecommunication and IT infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. ACES specializes in implementing total solutions and turn-key projects in wireless and fixed communications, network monitoring and testing, and information technology systems. An ISO-certified company headquartered in Saudi Arabia, ACES’ strength is founded on its credentials and expertise in engineering and project management, process and management systems, total end-to-end project delivery and the ability to work closely with the client to ensure the achievement of best practices in all projects undertaken to date. With more than 1000 professionals, R&D department, highly sophisticated Technology Center, warehouses and offices in different parts of the Kingdom, ACES offers peerless managed services in power systems, microwave, civil works, RF, IT-based solutions including VAS, database audit tools, indoor coverage, boosters, repeaters, e design and implementation of indoor and cell enhancer, benchmarking and optimization. ACES is a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation.