Aperto Networks

Company name: Aperto Networks
Where it's based: Milpitas, Calif.
When it was founded: 1999
What year it was a Fierce 15: 2004
Website: www.apertonet.com

Why it was a Fierce 15: Aperto Networks was a Fierce 15 award winner because it was at the forefront of WiMAX development. The company worked closely with Intel to help develop 802.16d chips, and had signed fixed-wireless broadband deals with 100 carriers in 40 countries around the world. Aperto was a leader of the Service Provider Working Group of WiMAX and a founding member of both the IEEE 802.16 Task Force and the WiMAX Forum. Click here for more.

What has happened since it was awarded the Fierce 15: Aperto Networks continues to make WiMAX gear. The company's PacketWave product family now serves thousands of users in more than 90 countries. Although it initially targeted small- and mid-size enterprises, Aperto now also plans to target mass-market consumers as WiMAX certifications and larger volumes lower costs. Aperto is still privately held and received additional funding in 2009.