Rome, March 4, 2004. - The European market for wireless public broadband access to the Internet is taking off. The decision by Telecom Italia to expand the wireless access network by introducing micro hotspots at thousands of locations nationwide, means that one of the world's largest telecommunications companies has just stepped up the pace of development. The company will be using a pioneering complete solution by Gemtek Systems that is based on the P-560 "hotspot-in-a-box". This solution -delivered jointly with Urmet Tlc, Gemtek Systems' qualified partner- will represent a new technology approach for hotspot deployment that will complement the current one, based on other technology vendors, that will be continued to be adopted for large hotspots.
As the leading manufacturer of professional Public WLAN hotspot solutions, Gemtek Systems has focused its business strategy entirely on the challenging carrier market and is supplying Europe's largest WISPs, telcos and mobile operators. All the systems that make up its comprehensive product line have been designed to fulfill a specific task: to enable seamless integration of PWLAN services into hybrid networks, to offer low total costs of ownership (TCO), to enable trouble-free roaming and to make user-friendly access via flexible and secure authentication possible.

As Italy's leading provider of telecommunication and Internet services, Telecom Italia is following a resolute strategy aimed at making it possible for everyone right across the country to have fast and simple broadband access to the Internet. The introduction of a comprehensive Wi-Fi network with a large number of hotspot locations nationwide represents a decisive step forward in a strategy that is set to benefit more than just business travelers. Given the rapid speed with which WLAN radio technology (IEEE 802.11x) has been integrated into end devices such as laptops, PDAs and soon mobile phones, it looks as though hotspots will become one of the most important forms of Internet access for the mass market.

Massimo Fatato, CEO of Gemtek Systems Europe explains: "Telecom Italia's decision to set up thousands of hotspot locations represents a clear signal to the rest of the European carrier market and has served in strengthening our resolve to concentrate on creating intelligent complete solutions for wireless public Internet access. With its pioneering Wi-Fi access technology, Gemtek Systems is providing Europe's leading telecom companies with support in making cost-effective broadband access available every time to everyone, everywhere."

Telecom Italia and Gemtek Systems have optimized what will become Europe's largest and most modern PWLAN network of micro hotspots to achieve low total operating costs. By introducing the P-560 "hotspot-in-a-box" solution in thousands of locations, they have decided for a supremely flexible system architecture which is even now ready to deal with future added-value services and which can be adjusted to fit the individual requirements of each location, as well as it is already possible for large hotspots. Indeed, thanks to its multi-VLAN capability, the easy-to-use public access features can be combined, in a seamless way, with highly secure enterprise access over the very same infrastructure.

Background

Telecom Italia is Italy's Information and Communication Technology leader and one of Europe's most dependable blue-chip companies. The group is striving to consolidate and strengthen its position through a strategy built upon customer service, technology excellence, innovation and profitability. Operations are closely focused on fixed-line, wireless telecommunications and on growth businesses such as the Internet. The Telecom Italia Group supplies 27 million fixed-network lines in Italy. The domestic Internet market continues to grow, with 2.4 million active users.www.telecomitalia.it

Gemtek Systems is the world's leading supplier of carrier-grade Wi-Fi public access solutions. Gemtek Systems was founded in 2002 and is a spin-off of Gemtek Technology Co. Ltd, a leading global manufacturer of Wi-Fi and 802.11 products for the consumer, SOHO and enterprise markets. Gemtek Systems is headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with operating companies across Europe, Asia and China. Gemtek Systems is the world's only vendor that is 100% dedicated to Wi-Fi public access solutions. Gemtek Systems is also the world's only supplier of full, end-to-end access networks for WISPs, telcos and mobile network operators. Gemtek Systems enables its customers to enjoy the additional benefits of integrated and optimized hotspot solutions beyond the features and functionality of a multi-vendor network.
www.gemtek-systems.com