Novatel Wireless Dual-Carrier HSPA+ USB Device First to Launch in the Middle East With STC

SAN DIEGO, January 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Novatel Wireless' Ovation MC545 Dual-Carrier HSPA+ USB Launched in Eight Cities in Saudi Arabia

Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband solutions, today announced that the Ovation(TM) MC545 is commercially available with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) in Saudi Arabia. STC is the first operator to launch a commercial Dual-Carrier HSPA+ (DC- HSPA+) network in the Middle East. The DC HSPA+ is currently covering eight cities in Saudi Arabia and supporting data speed of up to 42 Mbps.

"Mobile broadband services are experiencing tremendous growth in the Saudi market," said Jameel A. Al Molhem, VP of the personal business unit, STC. "To meet the growing demand for faster mobile broadband services, STC is the first carrier to commercially introduce DC HSPA+ technology in the Middle East and we are very proud to maintain our position as the market's wireless technology pioneer."

Continuing Novatel Wireless' design legacy with a focus on functionality, reliability, leading edge technology and innovative sleek style, the Ovation MC545 modem is today the world's most compact and light-weight DC-HSPA+ USB modem in the market place.

"We're thrilled to be assisting STC launching their DC HSPA+ network and delivering the most compact form factor to the market," said Rob Hadley, CMO of Novatel Wireless. "The Ovation MC545 USB brings advanced data capabilities to the consumers and will allow for new mobile broadband services supporting more compelling multimedia applications, faster and with richer user experiences."

Novatel Wireless has now launched the DC HSPA+ Ovation USB with carriers in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. The Ovation MC545 is based on the 3GPP Release 8 standard. DC-HSPA+ supports theoretical peak downlink data rates of up to 42 Mbps and 5.7 Mbps on the uplink, allowing carriers to easily upgrade their existing infrastructure equipment to achieve significantly higher bandwidths.

The Ovation MC545 supports the 900,1900 and 2100 MHz frequency bands and is designed to provide connectivity virtually anywhere to check email, download rich multimedia content and stay connected to family, friends and coworkers. The Ovation MC545 offers unprecedented speed and advanced antenna technologies to maximize data throughput and operating range. Featuring Novatel Wireless' auto install connection manager, memory storage of up to 32GB via MicroSDHC and backward compatibility with HSPA technologies, the Ovation MC545 provides a total solution for ultra fast mobile broadband connectivity.

About Saudi Telecom Company

STC is the leading national provider of telecommunication services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in the last few years, STC has gone beyond its local borders to the international markets, forming a network of businesses and investments in a number of GCC countries, Asia & Africa. The company has now foot print in Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and South Africa which has enabled STC to serve a greater number of its customers which the company seeks to increase internationally through studying and evaluation of potential investment opportunities in the future in line with its FORWARD Strategy. Information about STC products and services can be found at http://www.stc.com.sa

About Novatel Wireless

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of intelligent wireless solutions based on 2G, 3G and 4G technologies providing wireless connectivity. The Company delivers specialized wireless solutions to carriers, distributors, retailers, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide. Novatel Wireless' Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products, software, USB modems, embedded modules and smart M2M modules provide innovative anywhere, anytime communications solutions for consumers and enterprises. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more information please visit www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. These factors include risks relating to technological changes, new product introductions, continued acceptance of Novatel Wireless' products and dependence on intellectual property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel Wireless' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.

(C) 2011 Novatel Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless name and logo and Ovation(TM) are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc. Other Company, product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

    
    Contacts: Charlotte Rubin              Cara Sloman
              Novatel Wireless             Nadel Phelan
              +1-858-812-3431              +1-831-440-2411
              crubin@nvtl.com              cara@nadelphelan.com