Wireless Facilities And Bechtel Form Strategic Alliance

This nonexclusive agreement allows the opportunity to combine the resources of WFI, a global leader in the planning, design, deployment, and management of wireless telecommunications systems, with the world's premier engineering, construction, and management organization in Bechtel. With a combined staff of over 42,000 professionals, including 1,000 radio frequency and fixed network engineers, and the support of an extensive network of local subcontractors and global partners, the WFI-Bechtel alliance offers an unequaled network services capability for carriers and equipment manufacturers in these targeted markets.

The WFI-Bechtel alliance provides a single source for turnkey network delivery services, including network planning, project management, logistics, site acquisition, construction works, installation, and commissioning, as well as post-deployment optimization and maintenance. The companies will combine their global experience from the planning and implementation of over 30,000 cell sites, installation of 22,000 kilometers of fiber, and the deployment of 7,000 kilometers of microwave links to provide end-to-end network system delivery, resulting in fast, high-quality, and cost effective network roll-outs. "Getting into this market requires operators to build capacity and grow the business simultaneously," said Bechtel Telecommunications principal vice president, global business development, Gerry Kennedy. "Our service can free the operator to focus on the business. The combined strength of Bechtel and WFI can deliver efficient and secure networks on a fast-track basis."

WFI and Bechtel have already established significant capabilities for turnkey network planning and implementation services of GSM and 3G networks throughout Europe, including large-scale UMTS network design experience in Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. "By combining our strengths with those of Bechtel, we can deliver faster implementation of GSM and 3G networks," said Thomas Munro, president of WFI. "Today, carriers are faced with an increased need to expand mobile voice and data networks as they keep pace with the personal communications needs of their customers. Through our alliance with Bechtel, we can provide the resources, engineering talent, project management skills, logistics, and processes to provide a very powerful, seamless network design and delivery solution."

Bechtel has been active in the telecommunications sector for more than 30 years, providing a full array of services ranging from new wireless infrastructure to public switched telephone network additions and large fiber network deployments for mobile and fixed line telecommunications systems worldwide.

WFI has completed projects for more than 130 customers in over 100 countries, ranging in scope from the installation of a single cell site to multiyear, large-scale design and deployment contracts. WFI is active in the planning and implementation of next-generation wireless technologies, including mobile wireless Internet access, 3G mobile telephony, and broadband fixed wireless access systems, and is an active participant in wireless industry standards development.

About Wireless Facilities

A global leader in telecommunications outsourcing, Wireless Facilities, Inc. designs, deploys and manages wireless networks for some of the largest cellular, PCS, and broadband wireless carriers and equipment suppliers worldwide. Specializing in network architecture and dimensioning of mobile and high-speed wireless data systems, including third-generation (3G) networks, WFI provides a complete range of network services--from business and market planning to RF engineering, fixed network engineering, IP and data engineering, site acquisition and development, installation, optimization, and maintenance. Headquartered in San Diego, WFI has grown to more than 2,000 employees worldwide and has performed work in over 100 countries since the company was founded in late 1994. The company has offices in Dallas; Chicago; Seattle; Reston, Virginia; Montvale, New Jersey; London; Gothenburg; Frankfurt; Madrid; Mexico City; São Paulo; and New Delhi.

WFI and the WFI Globe logo are registered trademarks of Wireless Facilities, Inc.