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Airspan Uses VeriSign's Certificate Service for WiMAX ProductsTMCnet VoIP Minute Watch Columnist
Airspan Networks selected the VeriSign Custom Device Certificate Service to help prevent the pirating of broadband wireless services. Both companies made the announcement on Monday. The new partnership will enable Airspan to embed VeriSign digital certificates in its WiMAX-certified customer premises equipment devices (CPE), allowing them to meet security requirements for 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX standards and to prevent device cloning and service pirating.
The VeriSign Custom Device Certificate Service will enable Airspan to centrally generate cryptographic keys and corresponding digital certificates, which are burned into the read-only memory of WiMAX devices prior to shipment. The digital certificate then authenticates the identity of each individual WiMAX CPE to the service provider before permitting a user to access wireless broadband services. "Industrial strength authentication is a key part of 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX, and is a mandatory part of any indoor, self-installable, 'plug and play' WiMAX solution. Airspan's use of VeriSign's device certificate services gives service providers, network operators and end-users confidence that Airspan's AS.MAX product suite can deliver secure broadband wireless services," noted Paul Senior, Airspan's vice president of marketing and product management.
Airspan's AS.MAX 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX product line supports Indoor, Self-Install WiMAX Modems and end- user Devices. The AS.MAX product line is comprised of 4 Base Stations (Macro-Cell: HiperMAX and MacroMAX, Micro-Cell: MicroMAX-SDR and MicroMAX-SOC) and three CPE types (Indoor Self-Install: EasyST, Outdoor Professional Install: ProST, Wi-Fi / WiMAX HotZones: ProST-WiFi). All of the AS.MAX products include support for VeriSign's Custom Device Certificate Service.
"WiMAX holds great promise for broadband wireless 'last mile' connectivity and the introduction of advanced services, such as VoIP and IPTV services. However, for WiMAX to truly carry benefits to end-users, a means must exist to secure those services and the devices that carry on them," said Souheil Badran, vice president, EMEA, VeriSign. "By embedding our digital certificates into Airspan's WiMAX end-user devices, VeriSign will be able to provide a way to encrypt and protect wireless operators from device cloning and service piracy."
Airspan made news on Thursday when in a move to expand its WiMAX/WiFi offering, it acquired Radionet Oy Ltd. of Finland, a provider of municipal wireless hotzones, community networks, and mobile broadband systems for industrial applications.
Airspan acquired Radionet in exchange for up to $1.88 million of cash. In detail, Airspan paid approximately $1.75 million, in return for which 99.72 percent of the outstanding common stock and options of Radionet were tendered yesterday. Airspan will then pay an additional $0.13 million if the outstanding balance of shares and options are tendered for sale by November 24.
"We are very pleased to be able to add the Radionet product portfolio to our current range of products," said Eric Stonestrom, president and CEO of Airspan. "The market for wireless broadband connectivity is expanding rapidly, and a significant part of that growth is coming from agencies and internet service providers seeking the deployment of 802.11-based Hotzone networks. By adding Radionet's expertise and products, Airspan will have the most advanced integrated set of products to meet this important growth area."
Airspan Networks
VeriSign, Inc.
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet
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