Tropos Networks Donates Wireless Broadband Network for Houston’s Digital Inclusion Initiative

Announced at City’s Launch Event With Mayor Bill White, Director of the Initiative, and Public/Private Partnerships, Including HP, Microsoft and Verizon

Tropos® Networks, the market leader in wireless IP broadband mesh networks, today announced that it is providing the broadband wireless network for Houston’s Gulfton Super Neighborhood, the first Wireless Empowered Community Access Network (WeCAN) neighborhood and part of the City’s Digital Inclusion Initiative to improve the quality of life for underserved communities. The announcement that Tropos is deploying its MetroMesh™ system in the initiative’s first neighborhood to be served is being made at the official ceremonial “ribbon cutting” event here with Mayor Bill White, the Director of the Digital City Inclusion Initiative and other partners, including HP, Microsoft, and Verizon Wireless.

“We are grateful for Tropos’ participation and interest in helping our underprivileged communities grow and prosper. Their support is a critical element as the Tropos system provides the wireless broadband foundation for the WeCAN pilot network,” said Nicole H. Robinson, Director of the Initiative.

“Houston’s Digital Inclusion Initiative is a significant benefit for the community and we are proud to be a contributor,” said Tom Ayers, President and CEO of Tropos Networks. “I have seen the educational and learning benefits that digital access can provide to communities with other Tropos customers around the world, and look forward to working with the City in the future as they expand the WeCAN program.”

Through the support of the Houston Public Library and its partners, Gulfton Super Neighborhood is the first of ten neighborhoods to benefit under WeCAN over a two-year period. WeCAN will eventually be 25 neighborhoods covering approximately half a million people.

About the Houston Public Library

The Houston Public Library (HPL) operates 36 neighborhood libraries, a Central Library (reopening May 31, 2008), the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, the Parent Resource Library located in the Children’s Museum of Houston, and the Clayton Library, Center for Genealogical Research. Serving 4 million customers per year, HPL is committed to excellent customer service and equitable access to information and programs by providing library patrons with free use of a diverse collection of printed materials and electronic resources, Internet, laptop and computer use, and a variety of database and reference resources with live assistance online 24/7. For further information visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313.

About Tropos Networks, Inc.

Tropos® Networks is the market leader in wireless IP broadband mesh networks enabling cities and other organizations worldwide to own and control smart, affordable, IP infrastructures for deploying high-value applications that improve the efficiencies of its mobile workers while reducing operational costs. These applications include mobile public safety (for police, fire and EMS vehicles), video surveillance, utility automation and industrial deployments. The patented Tropos MetroMesh™ system delivers the ultimate reliability, scalability, and security at low cost that is required for business critical and life saving wireless applications and is installed in over 30 countries. Founded in 2001, Tropos Networks is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit www.tropos.com, call 408-331-6800 or write to info {at} tropos(.)com. Tropos is a registered trademark and MetroMesh is a trademark of Tropos Networks, Inc.

Contacts

CLS Communications, Inc.
Scott Green, 650-679-9044
teamgreen {at} rcn(.)com