RadWin, of the Rad-Bynet group, raised $13 million at the end of last week in a private placement, at a company value of $28 million after money. Investors included Sumitomi, the largest concern in Japan, which invested $1 million in RadWin through Sumitomi Electric. Sumitomi also committed itself to helping RadWin penetrate the Japanese market.
Other investors include Japanese fund Jafco - $500,000, the Kamran fund - $1.5 million, venture capital funds Genesis, Polaris and Eurofund, Zohar Gilon and other private investors.
Set up in 1997, RadWin is managed by Sharon Sher. At the CeBIT exhibition, currently being held in Hanover, Germany, the company unveiled a new system for providing broadband wireless Internet access, called WinAir.
Sher told "Globes" that the new system was intended for developed countries and for CLECS companies, which compete with large telecom companies. According to Sher, the system is particularly suitable for small and medium-size businesses and for multi-story buildings.
The product complements LMDS products, operating at frequencies of 11 GHs and below. The RadWin system is unique in using third-generation cellular technology, which has an edge over others because the current deployment of WLL networks is cellular to all intents and purposes.
The difference is that a cellular handset is mobile, whereas the product in question is stationary. The bandwidth provided by the system is 2 Mbps. Contrary to other similar systems, WinAir operates on TDM circuit switching technology and on IP technology alike.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 27 February, 2000