Atheros Communications
Supports the Newly Ratified IEEE 802.11j Standard for Indoor, Outdoor and
Mobile Use
New Standard Expands Spectrum and
Applications for WLAN Technology
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 29, 2004
– Atheros Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHR), a leading developer of
advanced wireless LAN (WLAN) chipsets, today announced its support for the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) ratification of the
802.11j standard. The standard is an amendment to the existing IEEE 802.11, and
provides specifications for using newly allocated Japanese spectrum in the 4.9
and 5 GHz bands for indoor, outdoor and mobile applications. Japanese cable
companies, hot spot providers, major utilities and broadband carriers already
offering wireless last-mile, vehicular, and hot spot access based upon current
Atheros WLAN products will be able to support the newly ratified standard
through a firmware upgrade.
The Japanese government published rules regarding the new
spectrum’s use for indoor, outdoor and mobile environments in August 2002. The
802.11j standard provides a universal method of supporting new frequencies,
different radio channel widths and wireless operating settings.
“We applaud the IEEE for seeing this 802.11 amendment
through the approval process,” said Tomoki Ohsawa, general manager of Atheros
Communications K.K. “The standard focuses on the new Japanese rules for wireless
LAN use, however, it will have an impact in other countries where WLAN
technology is progressively being used for hot spot, mobile and last-mile
solutions.”
In the United States, the 4.9 GHz band is being adopted for
public safety and homeland security communications networks, enabling
applications that can take advantage of WLAN technology’s high performance,
reliability, and low-cost. Communications vendors are currently delivering 4.9
GHz public safety band wireless solutions based on Atheros chipsets to police
and fire departments for regional field trials.
Atheros worked closely with the IEEE, contributing to the
development of the IEEE 802.11j, and the Multimedia Mobile Access Communication
Systems Promotion Council (MMAC-PC) in Japan through the Association of Radio
Industries and Businesses (ARIB) standard’s ratification. The result of IEEE’s
work is a standard that makes 802.11 networks more flexible by allowing them to
communicate and adapt, moving to any new frequency or changing the channel width
to increase network performance or user capacity. Additionally, the standard
improves the interoperability of new 802.11 applications by providing uniform
methods for specifying new frequencies and how to operate in both indoor and
outdoor wireless environments.
About Atheros Communications, Inc.
Atheros Communications is a leading developer of
semiconductor system solutions for wireless communications products. Atheros
combines its wireless systems expertise with high-performance radio frequency
(RF), mixed signal and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly
integrated chipsets that are manufacturable on low-cost, standard complementary
metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology is being used by
a broad base of leading customers, including personal computer and networking
equipment manufacturers. For more information, visit
www.atheros.com or send email to
info@atheros.com.
# # #
Atheros and the Atheros logo are trademarks
of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document
are the sole property of their respective owners.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Except for the historical information
contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including
statements regarding the 802.11j standard, are forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to,
whether the 802.11j standard is globally adopted; difficulties in implementing
the 802.11j standard and developing products that successfully operate using the
standard; the global telecommunications regulatory environment; general economic
conditions; and other risks detailed in Atheros’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 as filed with the SEC and in other
reports filed with the SEC by Atheros from time to time. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date hereof. Atheros disclaims any obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.
Cheryl Patstone, 408-773-5344,
cheryl@atheros.com or Greg Wood, A&R Partners, 650-762-2838,
gwood@arpartners.com.
