WaveRider Drives Internet Access in Ghana

; WISP Agreement in Ghana is WaveRider's First Step into African Market 07:30 a.m. Jul 27, 1999 Eastern

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 27, 1999--WaveRider Communications Inc., a leading global provider of wireless Internet access products, has announced it has signed a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) agreement with Network Computer Systems (NCS) of Accra, Ghana.

NCS will use WaveRider systems to provide nation-wide Internet access and LAN-to-LAN connectivity to businesses and residential users in Ghana. NCS has already brought clients online using the NCL135 and plans to build wireless Internet access and private networks using WaveRider's full range of NCL and LMS products.

"WaveRider is an excellent solution for NCS, because it enables them to offer a more comprehensive set of services than currently possible," says WaveRider's director of international sales Mike Orloff. "Our wireless solution delivers a faster, more cost-effective set of services, with increased management capabilities and the flexibility of a scaleable infrastructure.

"NCS represents an outstanding example of the potential for Internet access growth in Africa and working with such a strong partner is our first step into this undeveloped market," adds Orloff.

With no national backbone provider in Ghana, telecom operators are not active in the market. Ghana's phone density is low, as a result traditional dial-up connections are not an option for many of its 15-million residents. NCS is the leading ISP in Ghana and has been providing Internet access using wireless solutions to a portion of its 10,000 subscribers, however, WaveRider enables NCS to dramatically improve its network management capabilities, enhance network flexibility and deliver Internet services at much higher speeds.

"In Ghana, leased lines do not have the capacity to meet our demands for Internet access," says NCS's president/owner Dr. Nii Quaynor. "WaveRider's wireless solution allows us to meet the increasing demand for connectivity, in both rural and urban environments. The Internet is extremely important to the economic development of Ghana and other developing countries because it provides real time access to the same information as countries where more advanced technology is widely deployed."

The current market potential in Africa is substantial, as the telecommunications infrastructure is undeveloped. There are 2.03 telephone access lines per 100 people, compared to a worldwide teledensity average of 13.5 and a North American average of 64.1. The demand for Internet applications in Africa is growing as evidenced by the rapid growth of computer systems.

The number of computer systems in Africa is increasing at a much higher rate than the worldwide average, growing at 38 per cent; while the worldwide average is 18 per cent. As the next wave of e-commerce is likely to take off in the developing world, Africa and Latin America are target markets.

"These statistics are key in the demand for WaveRider's products," adds WaveRider's vice president of Marketing Charles Brown. "The growth in computer systems and e-commerce will be greatly facilitated as WaveRider's products are made available throughout Africa. The agreement with NCS is the first of many contracts we are anticipating. Securing partners such as NCS is the first step in bringing our high speed Internet access products to this continent of over 650-million people."

About NCS

Founded in 1988, NCS was the first full Internet provider in Ghana. They are an Information Technology company that specializes in establishing network solutions for organizations in West Africa. NCS has successfully established several LANs, WANs and private networks in the Region. NCS currently has approximately 10,000 subscribers, and has developed several projects including establishing a network, which enables Banks in Ghana to communicate financial transactions to their corresponding overseas banks in real time.

For more information visit the NCS web site: www.ghana.com

About WaveRider Communications Inc.

Founded in 1997, WaveRider is a leading wireless technology company that develops, manufactures and markets products for data communications and Wireless Internet Networking (WIN). WaveRider's high performance products use frequency hopping, spread spectrum technology coupled with time division multiple access techniques and operate in the license-free 900MHz and 2.4GHz ISM frequency bands.

For investor relations call: 888/533-1910