ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - (September 26, 2003) Yesterday, 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 to partially fund phase two of 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 Mr. Charles Oshunremi, Chairman of the Board, signed on behalf of Sirius Wireless.

Under the agreement, USTDA will provide $131,854 to Sirius Wireless to contract with Tusk, LLC of Washington, D.C., to conduct follow-on technical assistance to assist Sirius Wireless in upgrading their financial package to investment grade standard. In addition Tusk, LLC will draft requests for proposals and requests for information related to project roll-out.

"Through this grant, USTDA is pleased to support the additional steps needed to move broader telecommunications access in Nigeria forward to commercial reality," said Director Askey at the grant signing ceremony held at USTDA headquarters.

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

At the conclusion of the grant signing, Mr. Oshunremi stated, "With support from USTDA, Sirius Wireless…is now closer to deploying one of the most advanced wireless communications networks in Africa."

Since reopening its country program in Nigeria in late 2000, USTDA has provided over $4.2 million to various infrastructure projects in that country. Working with the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and strong development partners throughout Nigeria, USTDA is actively seeking to support growth in Nigeria's private sector.

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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