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ZAIN KUWAIT LAUNCHES FIRST CATEGORY 6 4G LTE ADVANCED MOBILE HOTSPOT WITH NETGEAR

NETGEAR AirCard 790S Mobile Hotspot shares connection to Zain’s upcoming 4G LTE Advanced network and current 3G/4G networks

KUWAIT CITY and SAN JOSE, California — March 16, 2014 — NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTGR) (www.netgear.com), has launched the NETGEAR AirCard® 790S Mobile Hotspot in conjunction with Zain Kuwait, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait (www.kw.zain.com). Introduced in September at the IBC trade show in Amsterdam, NETGEAR’s first LTE Category 6 hotspot uses carrier aggregation technology and supports Zain’s upcoming 4G LTE Advanced network as well as current 3G/4G technologies. The device will be sold in Kuwait under the brand name Zain LTE Advanced Hotspot NETGEAR AC790S.

Already the owner of the largest LTE network in Kuwait, Zain will be one of the first telco operators in the Middle East to roll out a 4G LTE Advanced wireless broadband network. 4G LTE Advanced is the next stage in the evolution of Zain’s network, a new breed of 4G that better uses Zain’s spectrum for more capacity while improving in-building coverage, all at faster 4G speeds. Customers in a 4G area with a compatible device can download, upload, share, and stream sports, movies, and music at fast speeds. Customers using the Zain LTE Advanced Hotspot NETGEAR AC790S will enjoy a better quality of service when Zain switches on LTE Advanced spectrum in Kuwait.

“At Zain, we are constantly looking to innovate our technologies and the services we provide. The NETGEAR AirCard 790S is a great addition to the data devices portfolio that we offer to our mobile broadband customers, with top-of-the-line features and premium build design,” said Omar Al Omar, chief executive officer of Zain Kuwait. “Our customers will enjoy 802.11ac WiFi, a long-lasting battery, optional Arabic language interface, and great features for an outstanding user experience. When you combine the AirCard 790S with our upcoming 4G LTE Advanced network, it presents a wise investment for the future.”

The new NETGEAR AirCard 790S mobile hotspot offers an ideal connectivity and productivity solution for mobile professionals and families on the go, as well as people who re-locate frequently or have difficulty getting traditional broadband at their locations — temporary workplaces, student housing, seasonal and mobile homes, etc. Laptops, tablets, smartphones, digital cameras, gaming consoles, and other WiFi-enabled devices can easily connect to the built-in 802.11ac wireless access point of the AirCard 790S to share a single fast mobile broadband connection. Consumers on the go, mobile workers, and travelers can avoid public WiFi, enjoying peace of mind when using their secure Internet connection to check email or conduct a videoconference.

“We’re very excited that Zain has chosen NETGEAR as a partner in Kuwait, and that it is the first service provider in the region to introduce our new Category 6 LTE mobile hotspot to its customers,” said Jim Kirkpatrick, senior vice president of LTE Products at NETGEAR. “Customers will enjoy its ease of use and robust features plus enhanced speed and range.”

AirCard 790S Mobile Hotspot for Zain

For security-conscious mobile professionals and consumers who enjoy using the newest, most innovative technology, the AirCard 790S mobile hotspot for Zain integrates simplicity, usability, and reliability with exceptional features, making it one of the best productivity companions for a busy on-the-go lifestyle. It is capable of aggregating up to 40MHz of LTE bandwidth and offers dual-band 802.11ac WiFi capability (2.4GHz for range, 5GHz for performance).

The AirCard 790S features a 2.4-inch intuitive color touchscreen interface for monitoring connection status and receiving alert messages. With the ability to automatically switch between 3G and 4G and a battery lasting up to 11 hours of continuous use, it enables customers to stay connected anytime, anywhere, and to share their secure connection among as many as 15 WiFi-enabled devices. The AirCard 790S also comes with a unique battery jump (boost) feature that enables people to charge smartphones and other small portable USB devices.

Set-up is accomplished in seconds as there’s no software to install, and new WiFi devices are quickly added to the password-protected network. Using the latest wireless encryption technology, it’s easy to set up one-time guest WiFi access to the network.

NETGEAR offers a complimentary app for its AirCard mobile hotspots for conveniently managing the device status, connection, and settings from an iOS or Android™ smartphone or tablet. In Kuwait, the app may be downloaded from the Apple® App Store℠, Google Play™ and the Windows® Store.

Pricing and Availability

The Zain LTE Advanced Hotspot NETGEAR AC790S is available now through Zain branches, franchises, and the e-store.

More Information

About Zain

Zain is a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to over 43.7 million active customers as of 30 September 2014. With a commercial presence in 8 countries, Zain operates in: Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and South Sudan. In Lebanon, the Group manages 'touch' on behalf of the government. In Morocco, Zain has a 15.5% stake in 'INWI', through a joint venture. Zain is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (stock ticker: ZAIN).

About NETGEAR, Inc.

NETGEAR (NASDAQ: NTGR) is a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers. The Company's products are built on a variety of proven technologies such as wireless, Ethernet and powerline, with a focus on reliability and ease-of-use. The product line consists of wired and wireless devices that enable networking, broadband access and network connectivity. These products are available in multiple configurations to address the needs of the end-users in each geographic region in which the Company's products are sold. NETGEAR products are sold in approximately 44,000 retail locations around the globe, and through approximately 36,000 value-added resellers. The company's headquarters are in San Jose, Calif., with additional offices in approximately 25 countries. More information is available at http://investor.netgear.com or by calling (408) 907-8000. Connect with NETGEAR at http://twitter.com/NETGEAR and http://www.facebook.com/NETGEAR.

©2015 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and AirCard are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holder(s). The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. NETGEAR shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. All rights reserved.

Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries.

* Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Actual data throughput and wireless coverage will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate and wireless coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility with any future standards.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc.: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, statements concerning NETGEAR's business and the expected performance characteristics, specifications, reliability, market acceptance, market growth, specific uses, user feedback and market position of NETGEAR's products and technology are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the following: the actual price, performance and ease of use of NETGEAR's products may not meet the price, performance and ease of use requirements of customers; product performance may be adversely affected by real world operating conditions; failure of products may under certain circumstances cause permanent loss of end user data; new viruses or Internet threats may develop that challenge the effectiveness of security features in NETGEAR's products; the ability of NETGEAR to market and sell its products and technology; the impact and pricing of competing products; and the introduction of alternative technological solutions. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.


U.S. Media Contact:

Jocelyn Shaw, Weber Shandwick for NETGEAR, (415) 262-5904, jshaw2@webershandwick.com

U.S. Sales Inquiries: (408) 907-8000, sales@netgear.com

U.S. Customer Inquiries: (888) NETGEAR

Zain Kuwait Editorial and Media Relations : EMR.kw@kw.zain.com