Agilent Technologies Centralizes Wireless Systems Operations in Singapore, Malaysia; Global Hub in Asia to Benefit Key Customers, Improve Efficiencies

[November 22, 2004]

Agilent Technologies Centralizes Wireless Systems Operations in Singapore, Malaysia; Global Hub in Asia to Benefit Key Customers, Improve Efficiencies

SINGAPORE --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 23, 2004 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced the centralization of its Wireless Systems Operations (WSO) in Asia, with two centers to be formed in Singapore and Penang, Malaysia. Singapore and Malaysia will become the global hub for WSO's marketing, R&D, manufacturing and supply-chain management. WSO, which makes test systems and solutions for the wireless industry, is part of Agilent's Wireless Business Unit.

"We're centralizing WSO in Asia to be closer to our customers in the emerging wireless market," said Gooi Soon Chai, vice president of Agilent's Asia Test and Measurement organization in Penang. "This is a very important initiative for us -- this division is focused on test solutions to support R&D and manufacturing in the wireless applications businesses, and customers here expect very high levels of interaction and technical consulting support from us. By leveraging upon Agilent's well-established Test and Measurement operation in Penang, and with Singapore rapidly becoming a center for wireless technology development in Asia, we will be able to significantly expand the spectrum, quality and speed of services to our customers."

Amir Aghdaei, Agilent vice president and general manager, will manage WSO worldwide from the Singapore office.

The global telecommunications sector is expected to expand at a steady rate of 8.5 percent per year. Demand for innovation and value-added services, particularly in emerging wireless technologies such as 3G, 4G, WiMAX, UWB and RFID, is continuing to expand rapidly. "Agilent sees these as key growth drivers for the future, both for the industry and for Agilent," said Gooi.

"Asia has the world's largest consumer base for wireless applications," said Aghdaei. "The adoption rate in this region is far greater than anywhere else in the world. In addition, most manufacturing for wireless devices is happening here, particularly in India and China. This has created a huge demand for cost-effective, sophisticated technologies required to verify and test all types of wireless devices, whether at the R&D labs or on the factory production lines."

By establishing the two centers in Singapore and Malaysia, Agilent expects to meet the needs of its customers through the world-class capabilities of both countries: innovation, productivity, customer service, and a highly skilled workforce.

"In Singapore, partnerships with the government and local industries have resulted in an excellent infrastructure for R&D," said Dato' Tan Bian Ee, president of Agilent Singapore and Malaysia. "These collaborations have resulted in the setup of a wireless community initiative to achieve Singapore's vision as Asia's premier wireless and mobile connectivity hub."

Agilent in Malaysia has formed similar partnerships with government and industry to establish a world-class infrastructure for manufacturing and supply-chain management. Agilent's manufacturing center in Penang produces more than half of Agilent's test and measurement instruments worldwide.

The Penang manufacturing center for WSO will comprise a team of more than 50 engineers and technicians working on all of Agilent's wireless test solutions. The company is in the process of forming centralized marketing and R&D organizations in the region, and by the end of 2004, Agilent expects more than 80 percent of its WSO system, software and hardware design engineers and project managers to be strategically distributed throughout Asia.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.

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