Airspan Uses VeriSign’s Custom Device Certificate
Service for 802.16 WiMAX Products
VeriSign Service Protects Against Piracy of Wireless Broadband Services;
Provides Compliance with WiMAX Security Requirements
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA. and BOCA RATON, FL. – November 14, 2005
- VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent
infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks,
and Airspan Networks (Nasdaq: AIRN), a leading worldwide provider of
broadband wireless access networks, including 802.16-2004 and 802.16e
WiMAX systems, today announced that Airspan has selected the VeriSign®
Custom Device Certificate Service to help prevent the pirating of broadband
wireless services. Airspan will embed VeriSign digital certificates
in its WiMAX-certified customer premises equipment devices (CPE), allowing
them to meet security requirements for 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX
standards, and to prevent device cloning and service pirating.
Airspan is the first company to deploy these VeriSign services in its
802.16 WiMAX platform.
WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology that
delivers broadband wireless connections over long distances, providing
an alternative to “wired” broadband services such as Cable and DSL.
The VeriSign® Custom Device Certificate Service will enable Airspan
to centrally generate cryptographic keys and corresponding digital certificates,
which are burned into the read-only memory of WiMAX devices prior to
shipment. The digital certificate then authenticates the identity
of each individual WiMAX CPE to the service provider before permitting
a user to access wireless broadband services.
Paul Senior, Airspan’s Vice President of Marketing
and Product Management said, “Industrial strength authentication is
a key part of 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX, and is a mandatory part
of any indoor, self-installable, ‘plug and play’ WiMAX solution. Airspan’s
use of VeriSign’s device certificate services gives service providers,
network operators and end-users confidence that Airspan’s AS.MAX product
suite can deliver secure broadband wireless services.”
Airspan will leverage VeriSign’s highly-scalable and
industry leading infrastructure to generate digital certificates in
volumes adjusted to their production schedule to keep up with varying
levels of customer demand. Additionally, VeriSign will provide
Airspan with the expertise to integrate the certificate provisioning
process with Airspan’s existing manufacturing operations, providing
a more efficient means to generate certificates during the manufacture
of the CPEs.
“WiMAX holds great promise for broadband wireless
‘last mile’ connectivity and the introduction of advanced services,
such as VoIP and IPTV services. However, for WiMAX to truly carry
benefits to end-users, a means must exist to secure those services and
the devices that carry on them,” said Souheil Badran, vice president,
EMEA, VeriSign. “By embedding our digital certificates into Airspan’s
WiMAX end-user devices, VeriSign will be able to provide a way to encrypt
and protect wireless operators from device cloning and service piracy.”
Airspan’s AS.MAX is the world’s first 802.16-2004
and 802.16e WiMAX product line designed to support Indoor, Self-Install
WiMAX Modems and end-user Devices. The AS.MAX product line consists
of 4 Base Stations (Macro-Cell: HiperMAX and MacroMAX, Micro-Cell: MicroMAX-SDR
and MicroMAX-SOC) and three CPE types (Indoor Self-Install: EasyST,
Outdoor Professional Install: ProST, Wi-Fi / WiMAX HotZones: ProST-WiFi).
All of the AS.MAX products include support for VeriSign’s Custom Device
Certificate Service.
About Airspan Networks
Airspan Networks provides wireless voice and data
systems and solutions, including Voice Over IP (VoIP), to operators
around the world in both licensed and unlicensed frequency bands between
700 MHz and 6 GHz, including both PCS and 3.5GHz international bands.
Airspan has a strong product roadmap that includes offerings compliant
with the new WiMAX 802.16-2004 standard, with software upgradeability
to 802.16e from the time the WiMAX products are introduced. Airspan
is on the Board and is a founder member of the WiMAX Forum. The
Company has deployments with more than 300 operators in more than 100
countries. Airspan’s systems are based on radio technology that delivers
excellent area coverage, high security and resistance to fading. Airspan’s
systems can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively, providing an attractive
alternative to traditional wired communications networks. Airspan’s
new iTone VoIP system is a carrier class, turnkey solution that provides
carriers with Class 4, Class 5 and IP-Centrex solutions and has a Softswitch
and Gateways supporting SIP/H323 and SIP. i-Tone’s design provides
customers; carriers, next-generation telcos, cellular providers and
ITSP with a wide range of solutions with the best price/performance
system for IP telephony. Airspan also offers radio planning, network
installation, integration, training and support services to facilitate
the deployment and operation of its systems. Airspan is headquartered
in Boca Raton, Florida with its main operations center in Uxbridge,
United Kingdom. More information on Airspan can be found at http://www.airspan.com
For more information, contact:
Airspan Media Relations: Anisha Sharman, Anisha.Sharma@text100.co.uk,
+44 20 8846 0747
Airspan Investor Relations: Peter Aronstam, paronstam@airspan.com,
+1 561 893-8682
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN) operates intelligent infrastructure services
that enable businesses and individuals to find, connect, secure, and
transact across today’s complex global networks. Additional news and
information about the company is available at http://www.verisign.com.
For more information, contact:
VeriSign Media Relations: Brendan P. Lewis, brlewis@verisign.com,
650-426-4470
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com,
650-426-3744
Statements in this
announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results
to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking
statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others,
the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations
in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the risk that
VeriSign's announced strategic relationships, including the relationship
with Airspan, may not result in additional products, services, customers,
profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures.
More information about potential factors that could affect the company's
business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any
of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
# # #
