AVIAT NETWORKS, INC.

Aviat Networks, Inc. is a global supplier of microwave networking and wireless access networking solutions, backed by an extensive suite of professional services and support ¹. The company designs, manufactures, and sells wireless transport and access networking products to two principal customer types: Communications Service Providers (CSPs), which include mobile and fixed telecommunications network operators, broadband and internet service providers, and private network operators such as federal, state, and local government agencies, transportation agencies, energy and utility companies, public safety agencies, and broadcast network operators ². The market for mobile backhaul is the company's primary addressable market segment globally ³. Future demand for microwave and millimeter wave transmission systems is influenced by factors including 5G deployments, subscriber growth, connected devices, IoT, network densification, geographic coverage, and license mandates ⁴. The company also sees demand in rural broadband, including the $42.45 billion American federal grant program managed by the NTIA to expand high-speed internet access ⁵, and in private networks for utilities, public safety, energy, mining, government, financial institutions, and broadcast ⁶.

The microwave and millimeter-wave wireless networking business is competitive and specialized, with principal competitors including business units of large manufacturers such as Ericsson, Huawei, ZTE, Nokia Corporation, and GE Vernova, as well as smaller specialists like Ceragon Networks Ltd. and Cambium Networks Corporation ⁷. The company also competes with fiber optic cable for networking connections ⁸. Competitive factors include unique differentiators, TCO, product quality and reliability, technological capabilities, service, ability to meet delivery schedules, and the effectiveness of dealers in international areas ⁹. The company believes its combination of network and systems engineering support and service, global reach, technological innovation, agility, and close collaborative relationships with customers are key competitive strengths ¹⁰. The company has more than 3,000 customers and significant relationships with global service providers and private network operators ¹¹, and its technology is underpinned by more than 300 patents ¹².

Aviat generates revenue by designing, manufacturing, and selling a range of wireless transport and access networking products, solutions, and services ¹³. The company sells products and services directly to customers and, to a lesser extent, through agents and resellers ¹⁴. Revenue is derived from product sales, including radios, routers, and software, as well as services such as network planning, design, installation, maintenance, and training ¹⁵. The company also operates an e-commerce platform, the Aviat Store, which enables customers to purchase products as needed, avoiding lengthy lead times and lowering warehousing costs ¹⁶. The company's business model includes a mix of product and service revenue, with product margin of 29.5% and service margin of 36.3% in fiscal 2026 ¹⁷.

The company's product portfolio includes the CTR 8000 platform of routers, the WTM 4000 high-capacity all-outdoor microwave radio with variants including WTM 4100 & 4200, STR 4500, and WTM 4800 for 5G network requirements operating in the 80 GHz E-Band at up to 20 Gbps capacity ¹⁸. The RDL 3000 platform supports ruggedized fixed and nomadic wireless access, and the Aprisa platform includes hardened narrowband wireless SCADA and ruggedized high-capacity LTE/5G cellular modems ¹⁹. The IRU 600 EHP/UHP is an ultra-high power indoor microwave radio, and Aviat Pasolink is a market-leading range of split-mount microwave with an extensive global installed base ²⁰. The company also offers ProVision Plus Management Software Suite and AviatCloud, a platform of secure hosted software and services ²¹. The company's products utilize frequencies ranging from 450 MHz to 90 GHz and can deliver capacities up to 20 Gigabits per second ²².

In fiscal 2026, the company introduced multiple important variants to the WTM 4000 platform, including WTM 4100 & 4200, STR 4500, and WTM 4800 ²³. Aviat also introduced new Multi-Band solutions, including a 2-box, 4-channel Extended Distance Multi-Band (MB-XD) to extend 10 Gbps links over distances up to 20km, 3-box, 6-channel MB-MAX, and Multi-Band Vendor Agnostic (MB-VA) ²⁴. The company acquired 4RF Limited on July 2, 2024, in an all-cash transaction for $18.2 million, net of $1.2 million cash acquired ²⁵. The company completed the NEC Transaction on November 30, 2023, with aggregate consideration of approximately $54.5 million, including cash of $32.2 million and the issuance of 736,750 shares or $22.3 million of common stock ²⁶. In fiscal 2026, the company's Board of Directors approved restructuring plans primarily associated with reductions in workforce, with restructuring charges of $2.1 million ²⁷.

Total revenue for fiscal 2026 was $439.682 million, compared to $434.606 million in fiscal 2025, an increase of 1.2% ²⁸. Gross margin was $138.291 million, or 31.5% of revenue, compared to $139.436 million, or 32.1% of revenue, in the prior year ²⁹. Net income for fiscal 2026 was $2.539 million, compared to $1.341 million in fiscal 2025 ³⁰. Diluted earnings per share was $0.20 in fiscal 2026, compared to $0.11 in fiscal 2025 ³¹. Research and development expenses decreased by 20.6% to $28.401 million, or 6.5% of revenue ³². Selling and administrative expenses decreased by 1.1% to $88.509 million, or 20.1% of revenue ³³. Interest expense, net increased by 26.8% to $7.679 million ³⁴.

The company's backlog was approximately $367 million as of July 3, 2026, and $323 million as of June 27, 2025 ³⁵. The company had 900 employees as of July 3, 2026 ³⁶. Revenue from North America and international regions represented approximately 50% and 50% of revenue in fiscal 2026, 48% and 52% in fiscal 2025, and 50% and 50% in fiscal 2024, respectively ³⁷. During fiscal 2026, 2025, and 2024, no customers accounted for more than 10% of total revenue ³⁸.

The company is focused on expanding its product and services portfolio and expanding its reach into targeted market areas ³⁹. The company's strategy includes expanding the data-carrying capacity of its wireless products to address increasing data demand while reducing overall energy consumption ⁴⁰. The company is investing in software applications, tools, and services to address operational complexity, and in e-commerce through the Aviat Store ⁴¹. The company plans to evolve its management software solutions to incorporate AI and ML technologies to increase automation, reduce time to repair, and reduce network downtime ⁴². The company is also making strategic investments in its access product portfolio to expand market opportunities and strengthen end-to-end networking solutions ⁴³.

The company is investing in research and development focused on technologies in microwave and millimeter wave RF, digital signal processing, networking protocols, software applications, and access networking technologies ⁴⁴. The company's research and development expenditures totaled $28.4 million, or 6.5% of revenue, in fiscal 2026 ⁴⁵. The company increased its research and development capabilities through the establishment and expansion of a new development center in Chennai, India ⁴⁶. The company's product development teams totaled 223 employees as of July 3, 2026, located primarily in Slovenia and New Zealand ⁴⁷.

The company's global manufacturing strategy follows an outsourced manufacturing model using contract manufacturing partners in Asia and the United States ⁴⁸. The company's strategy is based on balancing cost and supplier performance as well as taking into account qualification for localization requirements of certain market segments, such as the Buy American Act ⁴⁹. The company's supply chain strategy includes mitigation plans for alternative manufacturing sources and identified alternate suppliers ⁵⁰. The company has implemented mitigation measures, including sourcing and operational initiatives and pricing actions, to reduce the impact of tariffs on its business ⁵¹.

The company's capital allocation priorities include research and development spending, which totaled $28.4 million in fiscal 2026 ⁵². The company has a stock repurchase program approved in November 2021 to purchase up to $10.0 million of its common stock, with $3.7 million remaining available as of July 3, 2026 ⁵³. The company has not paid cash dividends on its common stock and does not intend to pay cash dividends at this time ⁵⁴. The company's credit facility covenants may restrict it from paying dividends or making other distributions to stockholders under certain circumstances ⁵⁵.

The company faces headwinds from ongoing pricing pressures attributable to competition and macroeconomic conditions in the geographic markets it serves ⁵⁶. U.S. tariffs on certain imported goods have increased costs within parts of the supply chain ⁵⁷. The company's international sales are subject to political, economic, financial, and geographic risks, including fluctuations in international currency exchange rates, imposition of tariffs, and general economic and geopolitical conditions ⁵⁸. The company's business depends on global supply chains, and geopolitical developments, including tensions between the United States and China, changes in trade policies, tariffs, export controls, economic sanctions, and armed conflicts, have created uncertainty and disruption in global markets ⁵⁹.

The company's sales cycle may be lengthy, and the timing of sales can extend over more than one period, making operating results volatile and difficult to predict ⁶⁰. The company's typical product sales cycle can take 12 to 24 months ⁶¹. The company faces risks from rapid technological change, evolving industry standards, and new product introductions ⁶². The continued expansion of fiber-optic networks, deployment of advanced 5G and future-generation wireless technologies, and development of alternative wireless transport solutions such as free-space optics and satellite-based connectivity may reduce demand for traditional microwave backhaul equipment ⁶³.

The company's business is subject to risks from geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, changes in trade policies, and disruptions to global supply chains, which have increased costs and may continue to adversely affect the business ⁶⁴. The company depends on sole or limited sources for some key components, including MMICs procured from a single source, and certain semiconductor supply is concentrated in Taiwan, with any military conflict between Taiwan and China potentially interrupting supply ⁶⁵. The company's international sales accounted for 50% of total revenue in fiscal 2026, and significant portions are in less developed countries, exposing the company to political, economic, and geographic risks ⁶⁶. The company faces intense competition from larger competitors with greater resources, which could adversely affect revenue growth and operating results ⁶⁷. The company's products compete with alternative high-capacity connectivity solutions, including fiber optic networks and satellite technologies, and the continued development of low-earth-orbit and other satellite networks presents a competitive risk ⁶⁸.

Management's message emphasizes building a sustainable and profitable business with growth potential ⁶⁹. The strategy has three main elements aligned to deliver a compelling Total Cost of Ownership value proposition: expanding the data-carrying capacity of wireless products while reducing energy consumption, investing in software applications and services to address operational complexity, and investing in e-commerce through the Aviat Store ⁷⁰. Management is confident in the company's ability to address current and future 5G market needs ⁷¹. The company is focused on executing future generations of technology to make wireless technology a viable choice for an ever-broadening range of network types ⁷². Management expects to continue to serve and expand the existing customer base and develop business with new customers ⁷³.