Canadian organizations sign MOU to boost commercialization and seize opportunities in emerging wireless technologies

September 20, 2021 – Ottawa, Canada: Edgewater Wireless Inc.® (Edgewater) (TSX.V: YFI) (OTC PINK: KPIFF), and CMC Microsystems, manager of Canada’s National Design Network® (CNDN), today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for expanded technology sharing.

Under this agreement, Edgewater will provide CMC with access to their Spectrum Slicing Development Kit for IoT devices for residential and industrial applications.  CMC will in-turn facilitate access to state-of-the-art design environments (CAD), prototype services (FAB) and equipment for device validation (LAB). CMC will also provide pre-fabrication support in the form of an independent design review and validation process using members of its pan-Canadian research network. 

Accelerating Commercialization

The goal of this MOU is to accelerate the commercialization of Edgewater’s Spectrum Slicing silicon solutions for use in IoT applications. “Edgewater provides an innovative solution to help keep the world connected” said Gordon Harling, President and CEO of CMC. “We believe the commercial applications of their technology are enormous and will soon be essential as the Internet of Things continues to expand and create new opportunities for growth.”

For Andrew Skafel, President & CEO of Edgewater, working with CMC will help get their solutions to market faster and more efficiently. “CMC has a proven track record of supporting Canadian firms and fast-tracking their growth. Their technical expertise is second to none, and they provide access to fabrication services that would otherwise be out of reach. These services will accelerate our speed to market and allow us to more quickly capitalize on the opportunity in IoT.”

Powering the Internet of Things (IoT)

The number of IoT devices in the world continues to explode and emerging technologies like 5G networks will result in even faster growth of IoT devices.  With exponentially higher demand, Wi-Fi networks must be stretched to deliver both the device capacity and low latency services required by IoT devices.

Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing optimizes performance for all devices in a coverage area. It enables the spectrum to be divided, allowing more radio signals to operate in a given area – in the same band. This game-changing Wi-Fi innovation can divide, or slice, any Wi-Fi band, including the emerging 6 GHz band (WiFi6E). Moreover, any Wi-Fi standards-compliant end device can take advantage of the technology with no need for the end devices in the network to have advanced Wi-Fi capabilities. With IoT applications, supporting multiple generations of Wi-Fi standards is critical.  

The Next Generation of Canadian Semiconductor Manufacturing

This agreement also welcomes Edgewater as a member of FABrIC, (Fabrication of Integrated Components for the Internet’s Edge) CMC’s semiconductor manufacturing network. FABrIC targets niche technologies where Canada has proven research, development, and manufacturing strengths and will build a first-of-its-kind national network to create critically needed semiconductor manufacturing capability in Canada. 

CMC and Edgewater have also agreed to work together to identify funding opportunities via private, public and government programs to support the Wireless Communications market.  For both organizations, “As the economic recovery ramps up, Canada has an opportunity to be a global leader in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Strategic investment and support will ensure that made-in-Canada game-changing innovations like Edgewater’s reach their full commercial potential and produce real benefits to Canada” they concluded.

About CMC Microsystems:

CMC Microsystems is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1984 to simplify access to state-of-the-art design, manufacturing, and testing facilities for advanced technologies. With headquarters in Montreal and offices across Canada, the organization manages Canada’s National Design Network® – a Major Science Initiative in collaboration with over 60 universities and colleges to connect 4,000 academic researchers, 6,000 student users and 1,000 companies.

About Edgewater Wireless:

We make Wi-Fi. Better.

Edgewater Wireless (www.edgewaterwireless.com) is the industry leader in innovative Spectrum Slicing technology for residential and commercial markets. We develop advanced Wi-Fi silicon solutions, Access Points, and IP licensing designed to meet the high-density and high quality-of-service needs of service providers and their customers. With 24+ patents, Edgewater’s Multi-Channel, Single Radio (MCSR) technology revolutionizes Wi-Fi, delivering next-generation Wi-Fi today.

Edgewater’s physical layer Spectrum Slicing allows a frequency band to be divided, or sliced, to enable more radios to operate in a given area. Think of Spectrum Slicing like moving from a single-lane road to a multi-lane highway — regardless of Wi-Fi technology.  The recently completed Proof of Concept (PoC) with a major Tier 1 Service Provider showed 7 to 18 times performance gains in 75% of homes surveyed.  Interestingly, homes with the most devices saw the greatest improvements.  

For more information, visit www.edgewaterwireless.com or www.aera.io.

For more information:

Kevin Dobie

CMC Microsystems

613-539-1027 / Kevin.dobie@cmc.ca

Edgewater Wireless Contacts:

Andrew Skafel, President and CEO

E: andrews@edgewaterwireless.com

Bill Mitoulas, Investor Relations

E: ir@edgewaterwireless.com

T: +1.416.479.9547

www.edgewaterwireless.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws.  The use of any of the words “looking forward” “continuing” “cultivating” “developing”  “anticipates”, “continues”, “to build” “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. Although Edgewater Wireless believes that the objectives to expand upon and develop new relationships with new service providers and capture the volume market for Spectrum Slicing  are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements and information because Edgewater Wireless can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.  By its nature, such forward-looking information is subject to various risks and uncertainties, which could cause Edgewater Wireless’ actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. These risks and uncertainties, include, but are not limited to access to capital markets, market forces, competition from new and existing companies and regulatory conditions.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release or otherwise, and to not use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose.  Edgewater Wireless undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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