CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 16, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- On October 16, 2003, SkyWay Communications Holding Corp. (OTCBB:SWYC) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sky Way Aircraft Inc., announced their plans for using the $1,000,000 investment from the duPont Investment Fund 57289, Inc. SkyWay has indicated that they plan to commence the rebuilding process of the network infrastructure immediately. As previously reported on October 6, 2003 and July 9, 2003, the rebuilding includes the hiring of the engineers and technicians who previously provided the maintenance and operational functions of the air-to-ground network and the activation of the national tower system that once supported the ground-to-air telephone service originally developed by AT&T/Claircom. SkyWay is currently in discussions with tower site owners and managers regarding the site acquisition and tower upgrades and identifying additional engineering personnel who will provide the technical support required to prepare and operate the first 10 operational sites. These initial sites will provide the network coverage for the eastern seaboard from Miami to Boston and provide the in-flight entertainment and advertising services to support the Southeast Airlines flight schedule. Currently operational sites are located in Clearwater/St. Petersburg, FL and Dulles International Airport, VA which are used for research testing and demonstrations, with sites planned in Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX and Orange County, CA scheduled for activation within the next 45 - 60 days.
According to Brent Kovar, President of SkyWay Communications Holding Corp., "We at SkyWay are extremely excited to start working with Southeast Airlines and the other vendors and customers to start this rebuilding process and the activation of the tower network. The network activation of the Ex-AT&T telephone system and the Southeast Airline in-flight SkyWay installation will turn on the telephone system and give SkyWay and Southeast Airlines the opportunity to return to making telephone calls while flying over the eastern seaboard."
About Sky Way Aircraft, Inc.
Sky Way Aircraft, Inc. is a Clearwater, Florida based company that is developing a unique ground to air in-flight aircraft communication network that it anticipates will facilitate homeland security and in-flight entertainment. SkyWay anticipates the Phase I of its Tampa Bay area network with the completion of the design and construction of the data center, with the commencement of operations of the data/monitoring center, located in Clearwater, Fl by January 2004. The Phase IA Tower Network, utilizing the in-place AT&T, XO Communications and MCI points-of-presence co-locations as mentioned in previous press releases, will permit the deployment of tower sites and point-of-presence locations along the eastern seaboard (FL to MA) and will also be designed to complete the site lease, purchase equipment and testing of each site to establish the connection from the Southeast aircraft through the tower location, to the Clearwater data/operations center. It is planned to have this Phase IA network completed by January 2004. Phase 1B will provide for the purchase, installation and testing of the Southeast aircraft-related equipment. It is planned to have this phase completed by February 2004. Following a period of airborne testing it is expected that the Southeast Airline (Eastern) network will be ready for deployment by May 31, 2004. Phase II secondary tower site deployment will concentrate on the central and mid western U.S. Southeast Airline coverage area commencing January 2004 and be completed by April 2004, which will be followed by 2 months of airborne testing. It is anticipated to have total coverage for all Southeast Airlines destinations by July 31, 2004. Sky Way Aircraft is focused on bringing to the market a network supporting aircraft-related service including anti-terrorism support, real time in-flight surveillance and monitoring, WIFI access to the Internet, telephone service and enhanced entertainment service for commercial and private aircraft throughout the United States. Based on the final upgrading of a previous airborne telephone and communications network, Sky Way Aircraft intends to provide broadband connectivity between the ground and in-flight aircraft throughout the U.S. using technology that provides a broadband high-speed data transmission. Sky Way Aircraft intends to be the communications solution for commercial and private aircraft owners wanting real time access to on-board security systems, aircraft health and welfare monitoring, avionics operations and for passengers wanting real time high-speed access to the Internet. The network will enable applications that can personalize the in-flight entertainment experience, provide real time access to flight management avionics with long-term data storage and also support for ground monitoring of in-flight surveillance systems that are being designed with the goal of enhancing current airline security standards.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence on third-party suppliers, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For more information regarding SkyWay Communications Holding Corp. please contact:
Brent Kovar, President (727) 535 8211 or www.skywayaircraftsecurity.com