MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - January 7, 2002. Commercial and industrial demand for broadband wireless access and cellular backhaul infrastructure lifted the microwave radio market to over $3.3 billion in 2001, in spite of reductions in capital spending by North American carriers. The demand for both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radios grew about 10% in 2001, according to a recently published study by Strategies Unlimited. The need for broadband wireless access and a dditional cellular infrastructure will drive the microwave radio market to over $5.5 billion in the next five years, for a CAGR of nearly 11%.

Strength in Europe, Latin America, and Asia have raised the global market for microwave radios. The explosive growth in cellular subscribers in China has fueled a demand for backhaul services. The rapid deployment of microwave radio is favored over landlines. The European market continued to rollout broadband wireless access systems in the 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands. Even in North America the cellular infrastructure market was sustained, and the smaller ISPs continued to deploy wireless broadb and systems. The unlicensed bands in particular were popular with the wireless ISPs, due to the ability to quickly deploy an initial system and scale it up only as the traffic grew.

In North America, the 2001 news for MMDS and LMDS was more disappointing. AT&T announced their departure from the wireless broadband market, and Sprint suspended future MMDS deployments. The Winstar and Teligent bankruptcy proceedings cast a long shadow over LMDS and the higher frequency markets.

The point-to-point market is well developed for the cellular backhaul infrastructure. The point-to-multipoint market, however, is less mature, and is dependent on the demand for high-speed Internet access for its growth. Wireless Internet access is expected to grow at a 20% rate per year over the next five years, driven primarily by Europe, North America, and Asia.

The continued growth of cellular subscribers worldwide will drive the cellular backhaul market for microwave radios. In addition, the major North American carriers have begun their 3G evolution with 2.5G rollouts in selected markets, and plans for nationwide expansion in 2002. The increase in voice traffic, combined with the newly emerging cellular data market, will lead to a demand for more backhaul capability, and therefore a demand for more microwave radios. Nokia is challenging Ericsson for the market lead in 3G infrastructure, and has developed key relationships with radio and radio module vendors to provide backhaul for their cellular base stations.

The Strategies Unlimited report, Broadband Wireless Access and Cellular Backhaul Equipment, describes the next five years for both cellular backhaul and Internet access for six global regions. The report also includes an outlook for RF modules and RF IC�s including revenue and ASP forecasts. It has been published and can be ordered at a price of $ 4,950. For the detailed Table of Contents, contact Strategies Unlimited at (650) 941-3438 or check the web site: http://www.strategies-u.com.

Founded in 1979, Strategies Unlimited specializes in market research and strategic consulting directed at photovoltaic components and systems, optical networking, optoelectronic, and RF/wireless semiconductor industries. The company is based in Mountain View, California and is a research unit of PennWell Publishing, a global media and information company serving the energy and advanced technology markets since 1910.