PARSIPPANY, NJ, October 18, 2001 – The market for licensed in-building wireless infrastructure in publicly used buildings and areas is growing at 20% per year, and will exceed $1B for the period from 2002 through 2006, according to InfoTech, a global telecommunications consulting firm based in New Jersey. Wireless operators, looking to hold onto customers and squeeze out incremental revenues, are addressing service coverage holes in commercial office buildings, airports, shopping malls and other public venues. Carriers like AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), Nextel (NASDAQ: NXTL) and Cingular (NYSE: SBC, BLS) are starting to place importance on building out their networks in public venues, their "last frontier". Equipment manufacturers and applications providers are realizing the public access infrastructure opportunity and offering a range of technology solutions and partnering models. "The in-building infrastructure market was previously a low priority, and is tough for vendors to address because each segment requires unique technology and partnering approaches," stated Oscar Noronha, InfoTech Senior Analyst.

InfoTech’s new study, Mining the Hotspots: Wireless Revenue Opportunities in Public Infrastructure and In-Building Venues, defines the infrastructure market opportunity and top five segments in terms of drivers, unique industry models, technology applications and five-year market forecasts. Based upon approximately 50 interviews and extensive primary and secondary research, the study also analyzes the leading technologies and the threat of substitutes such as wireless LANs, estimates market share and profiles the leading vendors’ products. "In-building and public access wireless has been a priority in Europe and Asia Pacific for several years. We expect to see increased attention on improving in-building coverage and capacity in the U.S., possibly even government mandates, as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11," stated Noronha.

To purchase or learn more about this or other InfoTech studies, please contact Mark Ricca at 973-602-0124 or at infotech@accessintel.com.

InfoTech is a subsidiary of PBI Media, LLC, specializing in global information and professional services for the telecommunications and data networking industries. InfoTech offers a comprehensive scope of information and professional services, including custom project consulting, market and competitive intelligence programs, tactical sales support tools, primary research studies and custom marketing programs. Further information about InfoTech can be obtained at the company’s web site at www.pbimedia-infotech.com