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airBand Communications Acquires Fixed Wireless Business Of Accelacom, LLC
Robert Hoskins
Broadband Wireless Exchange Magazine, Mar 29, 2005

airBand Communications announced the completion of its acquisition of the fixed wireless business of Accelacom, LLC, a broadband service provider based in Baltimore. With this transaction, airBand secures a broadband network in Baltimore with a customer base that includes some of the region's most prominent enterprises, including Under Armour, Mercy Hospital, Howard County General Hospital, the University of Maryland Diagnostic Center, and Brown Investment Advisory & Trust Co.

"Fixed wireless provides a strategic and cost-effective alternative for enterprises seeking broadband connectivity," said Andrew Lombard, airBand President and CEO. "As we sought to expand our offerings, Accelacom's complementary network architecture, strong service record and profitable business model met our most important criteria. We look forward to building on the company's achievements by expanding on the services we offer to customers in Baltimore and investing in the network to support further growth."

Accelacom's employees will join airBand, including the company's President, Christopher Camut. Camut will serve as airBand's Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic region. All of Accelacom's employees will have opportunities for continued growth within the company. Salvatore Tirabassi, Partner of Dolphin Equity Partners, Accelacom's lead investor, will join airBand's board of directors.

"As an investor in the broadband wireless space, Dolphin Equity Partners is very pleased to partner with airBand, which leads the pack in broadband wireless services," commented Tirabassi. "At Accelacom, we focused on building our leadership in the Mid-Atlantic region and, as a part of airBand, we will help extend the national leadership of the combined company."

This represents the first of many acquisitions airBand is planning to expand its coverage area and overall market presence. The company is profitable in all of its markets - which include Dallas, Houston and Phoenix - and has proven that it operates under a successful business model. airBand is in the midst of closing a large equity offering with both existing and new investors to fund the company's aggressive expansion strategy.

According to market research firm Research and Markets, the fixed broadband wireless market will grow from $430 million in 2003 to more than $1.6 billion by the end of 2008.