BELLEVUE, WASH. -- November 8, 1999 -- Advanced Radio Telecom Corp. [NASDAQ:ARTT], provider of broadband wireless Internet access services, announced today that it has signed an agreement with Cisco Systems, Inc. [NASDAQ:CSCO], the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, for the purchase of Internet Protocol (IP) networking equipment to be deployed throughout ART's local broadband wireless networks nationwide.
Also, Cisco Systems Capital Corporation and ART have signed a commitment letter, subject to various conditions, for Cisco to provide multi-year vendor financing.
"Using Cisco's comprehensive products as the core of our IP network infrastructure provides ART the flexibility and scalability we need to quickly and efficiently build broadband wireless metropolitan area networks in 40 markets nationwide," said Robert McCambridge, ART interim president and CEO. "Cisco's financial commitment, together with our recent $251 million equity infusion, accelerates ART's deployment schedule and fully funds our market roll out through 2001."
ART will use Cisco's high-end networking products including the Cisco 12000 series Gigabit Switch Routers (GSR) along with Catalyst intelligent switches and various other products to create the first broadband fixed wireless network optimized for IP services in the local loop. This highly scalable and robust infrastructure builds the foundation for ART to offer innovative New World services today and in the future. In September, ART launched commercial 100Mbps Internet access service to businesses in San Jose, Calif., making ART the first broadband wireless Cisco Powered Network service provider.
Kevin Kennedy, senior vice-president of Cisco's service provider line of business said, "The demand for wireless broadband access is fast growing, and Cisco is delighted to be teaming with ART as their infrastructure of choice in helping them fulfill and drive this demand. ART is delivering the technology and services that will provide their customers high speed access and applications enabling them to remain competitive and grow."
About ART
Advanced Radio Telecom Corp. [NASDAQ:ARTT], headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., is a provider of local Internet access services at speeds up to 100Mbps. ART currently owns and operates broadband wireless metropolitan area networks in San Jose, Calif., Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Phoenix with plans to expand to 40 of the top 50 U.S. markets in the next few years. Qwest Communications International Inc. [NASDAQ:QWST] is ART's strategic partner with Qwest Private Line, ART Broadband Services, co-marketing and co-location agreements. ART investors include Qwest and a number of high tech investment funds including Oak Investment Partners, MeriTech Capital Partners, Accel Partners, Brentwood Venture Capital, Worldview Technology Partners, Columbia Capital, Advent International, GE Equity, KPN, Sonera, Bessemer Venture Capital, and Adams Capital Management. ART has a nationwide footprint of 38GHz spectrum licenses in the United States, and owns 26GHz and/or 38GHz spectrum licenses in the United Kingdom and several Scandinavian countries. For more information, please visit ART's web site at www.art-net.net.
