The Leap Frog Group Leverages Aperto Networks’ PacketWave™ for Industrial-Strength Access in Michigan

Carrier’s success formula is wireless T-1 to ‘Ethernet speed’ delivery, quality and customer service leadership  

Atlanta, GA, (June 3, 2002) – Aperto Networks, a leading provider of next generation point-to-multipoint fixed broadband wireless access (F-BWA) systems, today announces The Leap Frog Group as its latest wireless carrier customer, in conjunction with Supercomm 2002. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan and serving enterprise customers with broadband access up to Ethernet speeds, Leap Frog is expanding its southwest Michigan regional service base throughout second and third quarter 2002.  

"After evaluating five alternatives, we selected Aperto as our sole supplier of point-to-multipoint wireless service platforms," stated Dan Horne, CEO of The Leap Frog Group. "Our network is Aperto, front to back. The combination of great radio technology, robust IP routing in the system, QoS, stellar uptime, and excellent link scalability in the PacketWave system was unbeatable. It is critical to us to be able to offer guaranteed quality of service and the functions our business users expect from a top-tier IP service. Our goals are to be the best in our market and make every cell a profit center as quickly as possible. Aperto helps us hit these targets."  

Aperto worked with Leap Frog to implement PacketWave’s seamless integration between wireless and existing wireline services (for example, in support of multi-tenant unit (MTU) environments). In addition, Aperto’s architecture has proven a good match with Leap Frog’s goals for minimum installation intervals, best-of-breed, flexible quality of service, and multiservice IP-centric service delivery.  

"We are very pleased to see Leap Frog activate service within hours of customer order, via PacketWave," confirmed Alan Menezes, VP of marketing for Aperto Networks. "There is no better way to impress new users and build loyalty than to deliver high performance access in one-tenth the turn-up cycle of terrestrial circuits. This is really a new paradigm above and beyond wireline broadband. With absolutely no dependency on the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier, and an alternate path to the subscriber location, Leap Frog is able to deliver a unique value proposition to its customers."  

Leap Frog’s Dan Horne will be available for discussion at the Aperto booth at Supercomm 2002, Hall A, #32357. Both Aperto and Leap Frog will speak on an industry panel at the show, License-Free Fixed Wireless Broadband Access, on Tuesday, June 4th from 2:15 to 3:45pm.  

About Aperto Networks

Aperto Networks is a leading provider of multiservice fixed broadband wireless access systems. The company was founded to provide a breakthrough solution to one of today’s critical network bottlenecks - last-mile broadband access. With practical, scalable systems and patent-pending technology that support new wireless builds and complement existing wireline broadband access technology, Aperto addresses service provider needs for rapid network deployment, multiservice scalability, ease of installation and cost-effectiveness. Aperto will dramatically shorten the lengthy provisioning cycles of broadband services by enabling rapid service provisioning across dense urban to suburban locations. Investors in Aperto include Alliance Ventures, Tyco Ventures, Innovacom (France Telecom), DMC Stratex Networks, Oki Electric Industry Company, Mitsubishi International Corporation, Ridgewood Capital, Satwik Ventures and Redwood Ventures. For more information on Aperto Networks, go to www.apertonet.com.  

About The Leap Frog Group

The Leap Frog Group provides non-stop, high-speed, secure Internet access at speeds ranging from 256Kbps to 10Mbps, enabling a range of business-critical tools: Rapid data transfers, video on demand, video conferencing, and voice over Internet. Leap Frog aims to help businesses build competitive advantage by connecting them rapidly and reliably with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. For more information about their innovative technology and network services, visit leapfrogbroadband.com or call (616) 456-5327.