Sky and NETGEAR Form Market-Defining Broadband Partnership in the UK
Sky and NETGEAR Announce Unique Collaboration Making FREE Wireless Internet Routers Available to All Sky Broadband Customers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — July 31, 2006 — NETGEAR®, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, and Sky, operator of the UK’s leading multi-channel television pay-TV platform, have announced a unique agreement that will see NETGEAR wireless router technology provided free to all subscribers to Sky’s new broadband internet access service.
Sky Broadband can cut household bills by hundreds of pounds a year whilst bringing customers the benefits of both super-fast broadband and wireless connectivity via a customised NETGEAR router, known as the Sky Broadband Box.
Aiming to provide great-value, fast, easy broadband connectivity for millions of Sky customers, Sky Broadband is available immediately with a choice of products including up to 2Mb download speeds with no monthly subscription. Sky Broadband also offers a choice of other quality products with download speeds of up to 16Mb. Monthly download usage ranges from 2GB to unlimited.
The launch of Sky Broadband comes as Sky seeks to take advantage of the UK’s accelerating demand for broadband connectivity, which, according to the Broadband Stakeholder Group, will double over next four years with household penetration exceeding 80% by 2010.
“NETGEAR too wants to be at the forefront of this growing opportunity,” said Mark Power, NETGEAR UK & Ireland Country Manager. “This collaboration with Sky – one of the UK’s highest-profile, premier content providers – should help secure exactly that.”
“With an existing base of more than 8 million customers and an offering that clearly spells great flexibility, quality, and value, Sky promises to be a major force in future broadband adoption and integration. Adding free wireless connectivity to this mix makes it more compelling still, and NETGEAR is delighted to be Sky’s partner of choice in this regard.”
Brian Sullivan, Sky’s Director of Product Strategy and Management, is equally excited about the agreement: “Sky is committed to delivering the content that our customers want and they in turn trust us to deliver products and services that work at the touch of a button. Utilising some of the most reliable, cutting-edge wireless technology available today, our agreement with NETGEAR fits this strategy perfectly.”
The launch of Sky Broadband has been made possible by Sky’s state-of-the-art network, which already covers 28% of households including London, Birmingham Manchester Edinburgh and Glasgow. The network is rolling out fast across the UK and is expected to pass more homes than the entire cable industry by early next year, reaching 70% of all UK households by the end of 2007.
Sky digital customers who are not covered by Sky’s broadband network can enjoy Sky Broadband Connect, which features all of the benefits of Sky Broadband Mid for a £17 monthly subscription. As the Sky network rolls out across the UK, newly covered Sky Connect customers will be offered the Base, Mid or Max products as their area gets connected.
About British Sky Broadcasting
Sky is the operator of the leading multi-channel television platform in the UK and Ireland. Around 21 million viewers in 8.1 million households enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels and interactive services on Sky digital, the UK and Ireland’s first and most popular digital television platform. BSkyB’s channels are available in 10.2 million households through cable and digital terrestrial television. Sky is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and FTSE4Good and was recently named to the Global 100 Sustainable Corporations list is a Sunday Times “Company that Counts”
About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR® (Nasdaq: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking products that address the specific needs of small and medium business and home users. The Company’s product offerings enable users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.netgear.com or call (408) 907-8000.
© 2006 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR®, the NETGEAR logo, and RangeMax are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved.
NOTE: References to signal rates indicate maximum achievable rates under ideal operating conditions. Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc.:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, statements concerning expected performance characteristics, specifications, market acceptance, market growth, specific uses, user feedback and market position of NETGEAR’s integrated ADSL2+ modem and wireless router with voice (DG834GV) and technology are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the following: the actual price, performance and ease of use of the DG834GV router may not meet the price, performance and ease of use requirements of end-users; the performance of NETGEAR’s products may be adversely affected by real world network, environmental and operating conditions; the ability of NETGEAR to market and sell its products and technology; the impact and pricing of competing products; and the introduction of alternative technological solutions. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled “Part II - Item 1A. Risk Factors,” pages 23 through 32, in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 2, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2006. NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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