Airspan Successfully Demonstrates Its IP-CoMP Technology in a 3.5 GHz Band 42 Technical Trial With SoftBank in Akihabara, Central Tokyo

BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwired - Feb 24, 2015) - Airspan Networks Inc., a leading provider of LTE small cells and small cell backhaul solutions announced today the successful completion of a technical trial using its lightweight CoMP (Coordinated Multi-Point) technology, known as IP-CoMP for LTE Small Cells, conducted with leading Japanese mobile operator, SoftBank Mobile Corp.

The trial demonstrated how 3.5 GHz Band 42 street-based small cells can be integrated into a single radio cluster, sharing the same PCI and operating an advanced Joint Transmission mode that dramatically improves the outdoor and indoor coverage, network capacity and the quality of user experience of a rooftop Macro-cell deployment. The deployment of Airspan's unique CoMP implementation, which supports both legacy LTE devices and newer LTE advanced User Equipment, removes edge-of-cell coverage holes and penetrates deep indoors to locations that cannot easily be reached using typical rooftop Macro cells.

In addition, unlike most "Cloud RAN" schemes, Airspan's IP-CoMP implementation operates without the need for CPRI or dark fiber fronthaul, providing the benefits of LTE CoMP operation using conventional Ethernet backhaul. Airspan's IP-CoMP implementation in future will be supported over Airspan's wireless iBridge backhaul solutions.

"This demonstration of Airspan's IP-CoMP opens up a number of new opportunities for LTE network operators looking to extend their network capacity and coverage utilizing small-cell technology", said Henrik Smith-Petersen, President Global Sales & Business Development Airspan Networks. "Airspan's IP-CoMP is standards based and can be easily packaged with our small cell eNodeBs. This capability enables Airspan's small cells to complement Macro cell coverage in any LTE Band".

"We are very pleased to have seen Airspan's lightweight CoMP Technology in action" said Takashi Tsustui, Chief Scientist, Senior Vice President and Director, SoftBank BB Corp. and Vice President and Director, Technology Strategy, SoftBank Mobile Corp. "The trial showed how this CoMP scheme can extend network coverage and capacity from our planned Band 42 macro LTE base stations way beyond the cell-edge and increase the capacity of existing users in these locations by a factor of three. Airspan's IP-CoMP Technology is built upon standard LTE release 8/9 air-interface capabilities and provides low latency, high throughputs and an excellent quality of experience."

Airspan's small cell portfolio provides a comprehensive set of solutions for the deployment LTE small cells in Indoor, Outdoor and Rural use cases. AirVelocity, AirHarmony, AirSynergy, Air4G and V-RAN AirSymphony platform, which supports the IP-CoMP solution represent the industry's most ground-breaking and disruptive LTE RAN solutions, radically changing the economics of providing high capacity LTE service. The IP-CoMP scheme complements our iBridge backhaul technology, providing another way to build advanced "Cloud" based RAN.

About Airspan Networks Inc.
Airspan (OTCBB: AIRO) is a leading LTE RAN solution provider, with over 1000 customers in over 100 countries. Airspan is regularly recognized as a leader and pioneer in LTE Access and innovative Backhaul solutions. Airspan has an expansive product portfolio, which includes indoor and outdoor small cells, and all-outdoor, compact Micro and Macro base stations, a wide variety of user devices, and advanced core network products. These connectivity solutions operate in bands from 400 MHz up to 6.4 GHz. 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

About the SoftBank Group

The SoftBank Group comprises SoftBank Corp. (TYO: 9984) and its subsidiaries and associates that offer a comprehensive range of advanced mobile communications, fixed-line communications and Internet services around the world. With Sprint joining in July 2013, the SoftBank Group became a leading global carrier that now has over 100 million subscribers. Maximizing synergies across its Group companies worldwide, SoftBank aspires to realize lifestyle innovation through IT. The SoftBank Group is also encouraging the adoption of clean and safe energy through its business activities. To learn more, please visit http://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/