Airspan Uses VeriSign's Custom Device Certificate Service

November 15, 2005

VeriSign and Airspan Networks today announced that Airspan has selected the VeriSign Custom Device Certificate Service to help prevent the pirating of broadband wireless services. Airspan will embed VeriSign digital certificates in its WiMAX-certified customer premises equipment devices (CPE), allowing them to meet security requirements for 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX standards, and to prevent device cloning and service pirating. Airspan is the first company to deploy these VeriSign services in its 802.16 WiMAX platform.

The VeriSign Custom Device Certificate Service will enable Airspan to centrally generate cryptographic keys and corresponding digital certificates, which are burned into the read-only memory of WiMAX devices prior to shipment. The digital certificate then authenticates the identity of each individual WiMAX CPE to the service provider before permitting a user to access wireless broadband services.

Paul Senior, Airspan's Vice President of Marketing and Product Management said, "Industrial strength authentication is a key part of 802.16-2004 and 802.16e WiMAX, and is a mandatory part of any indoor, self-installable, 'plug and play' WiMAX solution. Airspan's use of VeriSign's device certificate services gives service providers, network operators and end-users confidence that Airspan's AS.MAX product suite can deliver secure broadband wireless services."

Airspan will leverage VeriSign's highly-scalable and industry leading infrastructure to generate digital certificates in volumes adjusted to their production schedule to keep up with varying levels of customer demand. Additionally, VeriSign will provide Airspan with the expertise to integrate the certificate provisioning process with Airspan's existing manufacturing operations, providing a more efficient means to generate certificates during the manufacture of the CPEs.

See full release: PrNewswire.