Airspan Selected for UK Smart Grid Pilot With Western Power Distribution

BARCELONA, SPAIN--(Marketwire - Feb 27, 2013) -  Airspan Networks Inc., a leading provider of 4G broadband wireless access networks, announced today that it has been selected by Western Power Distribution (WPD) to supply a WIGRID broadband wireless access solution for the Government funded pilot of a low carbon smart grid network.

Airspan's compact pico base station, AirSynergy 2000, is to be deployed to provide secure high bandwidth wireless connections between primary and secondary power grid sub-stations in and around Milton Keynes, UK. A hierarchical wireless architecture is being adopted whereby AirSynergy 2000 base stations deliver WiGRID M2M access with integrated iBridge wireless backhaul. Airspan is also providing network design and professional services.

Barrie Stephens, Infrastructure Manager for the Surf Telecoms division of WPD, said: "Being able to develop a robust telecommunication network is a critical element in our strategy, especially given the forecasted uptake in low-carbon technologies such as electric cars, heat pumps, and solar panels. Airspan's compact low power base station technology is an ideal complement to the energy saving technologies for which this pilot will pave the way."

The Milton Keynes pilot, part of WPD's low carbon project known as FALCON, is being operated on spectrum licenses granted by the regulator Ofcom to allow the trials to proceed and prove the viability of wireless control and monitoring of the electricity grid.

"We are delighted to be selected by WPD and to be part of this revolutionizing pilot," commented Paul Trubridge, Airspan Vice President of Product Management. "AirSynergy 2000's high performance and compliance with WiGRID profiles will enable deployment of a smart grid solution that meets WPD's security and network integration needs. The pilot deployment in Milton Keynes serves as a blue print for the smart grid telecommunications network model in Europe and beyond."

AirSynergy 2000 is a groundbreaking pico cell, multi-standard 4G product. Its compact design ensures discrete deployments in various locations such as lamp posts, utility poles and building fronts. Most unique to the product is its integrated wireless backhaul capability, called iBridge, and the ability to self-configure, self-connect, self-heal and self-optimize when deployed.

WiGRID was recently established by the WiMAX Forum as an interoperable wireless profile for use in electricity utility networks.

Airspan products include Pico, Micro and Macro base stations, a wide variety of user devices, and advanced core network products, providing 4G LTE and WiMAX connectivity solutions operating in the 150 MHz up to 5.9 GHz bands.

About Western Power Distribution
WPD is one of six electricity distribution network operators in the United Kingdom, responsible for the Midlands, South Wales, and the South West. Its grid is one of the largest and most diverse in the country, covering densely populated residential neighbourhoods and widely dispersed rural communities, consisting of 216,000 kilometres of overhead lines and underground cables and 184,000 substations. WPD delivers electricity to more than 7.7 million customers over a 55,300 square kilometre service area.

For more information about Western Power Distribution's low carbon innovation projects, please visit www.westernpowerinnovation.co.uk

About Airspan Networks Inc.
Airspan (OTCBB: AIRO) is a leading 4G wireless solution provider. With over 500 customers in over 100 countries and as a top vendor for carrier-class broadband wireless solutions, Airspan is recognized as a leader and pioneer in 4G and broadband wireless technologies. Providing an expansive product portfolio, Airspan offers customers the widest selection of 4G products in the industry with an unsurpassed level of technology to benefit their business case. Airspan has solutions spanning the 150 MHz to 6 GHz frequency bands. www.airspan.com.

Oak Investment Partners XI, Limited Partnership holds a controlling interest in Airspan. Airspan is not subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, accordingly, does not file reports, financial statements, proxy statements, information statements or other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "will," "would" and similar expressions or negative variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Investors and others are therefore cautioned that a variety of factors, including certain risks, may affect our business and cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.