WASHINGTON, D.C. - (November 13, 2002) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and Sirius Wireless Limited, a Nigerian subsidiary of ThirdWave Networks Holdings of Washington, D.C., entered into a grant agreement on November 6, 2002 to partially fund a study on the roll-out of a fixed wireless system in Rivers State. USTDA Director Thelma J. Askey signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. government, and Charles Oshunremi, Chairman of the Board, signed on behalf of Sirius Wireless.

Under the agreement, TDA will provide a $200,000 grant to Sirius Wireless to contract with Unicorn Communications, Inc. of Dewey, Oklahoma, to determine the best options for offering wireless services in Rivers State. Specifically, the study will assess the proper design of the system and develop a comprehensive financial model for the project to receive implementation financing.

The grant represents a commitment by the United States and Nigeria to improve Nigeria's tele-density, which will help to promote Nigerian economic development, particularly in the Niger Delta region. In addition, the grant is a continuation of USTDA's involvement with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in helping to bring telecommunications services to every Nigerian.

At the conclusion of the grant signing, Mr. Oshunremi stated, "We are very pleased with the participation of USTDA in helping to bring a state-of-the-art high speed access telecommunications network to Rivers State, the major oil and gas region in Nigeria. Having successfully won the 3.5GHz frequency auction conducted by the NCC, we now embark on the network design and system deployment."

Since reopening its county program in late 2000, USTDA has provided over $3.5 million in funding to various infrastructure projects in Nigeria. Working together with the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, and strong development partners in Nigeria, USTDA is actively seeking to support growth in Nigeria's private sector and crucial industries.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation in developing and middle-income countries, with special emphasis on economic sectors that represent significant U.S. export potential. By funding various forms of technical assistance, training grants, feasibility and specialized studies, conferences, orientation visits, and business workshops, USTDA helps American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity-building initiatives and supports U.S. Government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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