OCTOBER 9, 2003 - 09:14 ET

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Wi-LAN Inc. (TSX: WIN) ("Wi-LAN" or the "Company"), a global provider of market-leading broadband wireless communication products and technologies, today announced that is has entered into a bought deal agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Orion Securities Inc. ("Orion"), and including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., and CIBC World Markets Inc. Under the agreement, the syndicate has agreed to purchase 2,900,000 Units of the Company at a price of $4.15 per Unit, resulting in gross proceeds to the
Company of approximately $12.04 million. Each Unit will consist of one Common Share of Wi-LAN and one-half of one purchase warrant ("Purchase Warrant") to acquire one Common Share. Each whole Purchase Warrant will entitle a holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $5.25 per Common Share and will expire eighteen months from the closing date. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 435,000 Units at a price of $4.15 per Unit until 48 hours prior to the closing. If the underwriters' option is exercised in full, the aggregate gross proceeds of the offering will be approximately $13.84 million. The net proceeds from the offering will be used for general corporate purposes and potential acquisition opportunities. The offering is expected to close on or about October 29, 2003.

The transaction is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory and stock exchange approvals.

The common shares have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or
benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

About Wi-LAN Inc.

Wi-LAN is a global provider of broadband wireless communications products and technologies, offering businesses, including telecom service providers, and government enterprises effective, economic
and secure wireless solutions for provision of high-speed communications. Wi-LAN specializes in high-speed Internet access, data network extension, and wireless data and telephony backhaul,
utilizing its high quality products and industry-leading technologies. Wi-LAN believes its W-OFDM patents are necessary for the implementation of devices using the IEEE standards 802.16 WirelessMAN(i), 802.11a or 802.11g, the ETSI BRAN HiperLAN/2(i) Standard or the current draft of the proposed ETSI BRAN
HiperMAN(i) Standard. Wi-LAN licenses its W-OFDM technology and has executed non-exclusive W-OFDM license agreements with semiconductor companies. Wi-LAN is the Chair Company of the OFDM
Forum (www.ofdm-forum.com) and an active member of the WiMAX Forum (www.wimaxforum.org ). Wi-LAN's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WIN." Detailed
information on Wi-LAN can be found at www.wi-lan.com.

(i) All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.