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MACH and Accuris Networks Enable World's First Pre-Paid Inter-Standard Roaming Call for Starcomms Plc Nigeria
LUXEMBOURG, August 5, 2010-- MACH, the leading provider of hub-based mobile communications exchange
solutions, together with Accuris Networks, the leading provider of
inter-standard and converged solutions, announced today that the world's
first ever pre-paid inter-standard roaming call was made while roaming on to
an international GSM network. The call was made possible by MACH's
Inter-Standard Roaming (ISR) Solution, which uses Accuris Networks' AccuROAM
inter-working platform, and as the result of an agreement signed with
Starcomms Plc Nigeria to deploy MACH's ISR solutions which is a first in
Africa.
Tushar Maheshwari, Chief Commercial Officer at Starcomms, commented: "We
shortlisted MACH/Accuris Networks from various other vendors and are
extremely happy that this partnership has resulted in making the world's
first pre-paid inter-standard CDMA/GSM roaming call in a record time of 45
days."
"More than 90% of mobile subscriptions in the CDMA world today are
pre-paid and typically these subscribers cannot and do not normally roam,"
said Guy Dubois, President and CEO of MACH. "By successfully demonstrating
the first pre-paid roaming call across two wholly disparate technologies,
CDMA and GSM, using MACH's ISR solution, we have taken the first step towards
opening up this vast untapped market for mobile operators. This achievement
is a first in the industry and firmly positions MACH as a leader in the ISR
pre-paid roaming market."
The agreement between MACH and Starcomms Plc Nigeria will provide
Starcomms' more than three million pre-paid CDMA customers with seamless
access to international mobile roaming on GSM networks and other wireless
technologies. It will also greatly expand Starcomms' international network
coverage compared to its competitors.
Dubois added: "Until now, CDMA operators have been faced with a stark
choice. Either they made the large capital investments in 'Box in a network'
solutions and committed the high operational expenditure necessary to open up
inter-standard access for their customers, or they lost revenue to local
providers of GSM and WiFi services and delivered a service that fell short
of customer expectations. MACH ISR managed service solutions offer a far
more efficient and value added approach to delivering seamless extension of
operators' home networks, without the capital and operational costs -
unlocking new revenue opportunities for operators, and providing
cost-effective convenience for their customers."
The ISR solution from MACH uses the Accuris Networks AccuROAM
inter-working platform for voice and SMS, and MACH's own patented Mobile IP
Proxy for seamless data roaming. It is delivered through a proven managed
services infrastructure, and offers turnkey inter-operability between
wireless technologies, including CDMA, 1X/EVDO, GSM, GPRS/UMTS, WiFi, WiMax
and, soon, LTE. The solution, which can be implemented using existing
connections, offers end-users all of the services that are available on their
home network, even when they are travelling. With end-to-end, one number
inter-operability, operators can provide complete voice and messaging
services without the time and investment required to build their own
platform.
"Accuris Networks has consistently led the way in providing
inter-standard and inter-technology roaming solutions," said Gilbert Little,
Chairman, Accuris Networks. "This latest move in conjunction with our partner
MACH is the latest in a line of successful firsts. We are fully committed to
continuing that trend and, in addition to supporting pre-paid inter-standard
roaming, we also provide support for integrated cellular and IP networks to
enable IP Offload and seamless Wi-Fi based roaming."
By adopting MACH's ISR solution, Starcomms is able to enhance customer
satisfaction and increase revenues in two ways. Firstly, by providing
seamless pre-paid international roaming access to customers, the operator
will command a greater share of revenues that would otherwise be spent on
technologies like local prepaid GSM SIM cards or hotel and airport WiFi.
Secondly, the operator will further enhance customer satisfaction and
increase customers' mobile usage by delivering a full portfolio of voice
services and applications to customers wherever they are in the world,
through one device and with one bill.
"Starcomms is dedicated to providing innovative products and services
that continuously simplify and enhance the lives of our customers," said
Maher Qubain, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Starcomms Plc
Nigeria. "The addition of inter-standard roaming
capabilities to our portfolio will provide even greater choice and
deliver even higher levels of service to our customers, which will open up
new and profitable revenue streams for Starcomms. Once again, Starcomms
changes the CDMA landscape in Nigeria as it opens up roaming to its
customers."
Starcomms will protect its existing technology investments by leveraging
the MACH ISR solution's out-of-the-box compatibility with the technologies
operated by roaming partners, using a single point of connectivity that
provides a cost-effective extension of network coverage. The need for network
installation is eliminated, shortening time-to-market and reducing capital
investment. Simplified, zone-based pricing and access to GSM, CDMA and WiMAX
networks through one single agreement significantly reduce operating costs so
that operators can offer lower end-user prices.
About Starcomms Nigeria
Starcomms Plc, Nigeria's leading telecommunications operator and foremost
triple-play (mobile, fixed wireless broadband) services provider started
operation in 1999 by providing only fixed wireless services, a market segment
it began to lead by 2005.The company is the first telecommunication operator
to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and has over 3 million
subscribers on its network.
A CDMA 3G Mobile network, the company is a pioneer in the provision of 3G
broadband service in Nigeria, using 2000 Ev-Do. Starcomms is the first
company in Africa to launch Ev-Do high speed broadband services in June 2006.
The network now has nationwide mobile services,
holding a 10-year (renewable) technology-neutral national unified
license, which allows for a full range of telecommunication services in
Nigeria as well as international gateway services.
About Accuris Networks
Accuris Networks is a leading provider of Roaming Inter-Working and
Convergence solutions. Established in 1997, Accuris Networks is headquartered
in Dublin, Ireland with offices in the United States and Malaysia. Developed
and managed by a team with unrivalled experience in service convergence and
service continuity, the AccuROAM platform provides a competitive, cost
effective and robust inter-working platform designed to enable seamless
mobility across multiple network technologies including GSM, CDMA, Wi-Fi,
WiMAX and LTE.
About MACH
MACH operates the world's leading hub-based mobile communications
exchange, uniting the global telecommunications marketplace. MACH HUB-XC(R)
provides the platform for the efficient exchange of mobile traffic, of
service validation, delivery and billing information, and of settlement
transactions. MACH is the largest provider of data and financial clearing
solutions for wireless roaming and operates the world's largest open
connectivity roaming hub, Link2One. Headquartered in Luxembourg, MACH has
offices in 12 countries and employs more than 1,000 people worldwide. MACH
serves more than 650 customers, including Orange, Telefonica, T-Mobile,
Vodafone, Verizon Wireless and Microsoft, as well as enterprise messaging
customers like KLM. For further information, visit http://www.mach.com.
Enquiries
MACH
Eileen Preston, Global PR Manager
Eipr@mach.com
Tel: +44(0)20-7959-8119
Source: MACH
Enquiries: MACH, Eileen Preston, Global PR Manager, Eipr@mach.com, Tel: +44(0)20-7959-8119
MACH and Accuris Networks Enable World's First Pre-Paid Inter-Standard Roaming Call for Starcomms Plc Nigeria
LUXEMBOURG, August 5, 2010-- MACH, the leading provider of hub-based mobile communications exchange
solutions, together with Accuris Networks, the leading provider of
inter-standard and converged solutions, announced today that the world's
first ever pre-paid inter-standard roaming call was made while roaming on to
an international GSM network. The call was made possible by MACH's
Inter-Standard Roaming (ISR) Solution, which uses Accuris Networks' AccuROAM
inter-working platform, and as the result of an agreement signed with
Starcomms Plc Nigeria to deploy MACH's ISR solutions which is a first in
Africa.
Tushar Maheshwari, Chief Commercial Officer at Starcomms, commented: "We
shortlisted MACH/Accuris Networks from various other vendors and are
extremely happy that this partnership has resulted in making the world's
first pre-paid inter-standard CDMA/GSM roaming call in a record time of 45
days."
"More than 90% of mobile subscriptions in the CDMA world today are
pre-paid and typically these subscribers cannot and do not normally roam,"
said Guy Dubois, President and CEO of MACH. "By successfully demonstrating
the first pre-paid roaming call across two wholly disparate technologies,
CDMA and GSM, using MACH's ISR solution, we have taken the first step towards
opening up this vast untapped market for mobile operators. This achievement
is a first in the industry and firmly positions MACH as a leader in the ISR
pre-paid roaming market."
The agreement between MACH and Starcomms Plc Nigeria will provide
Starcomms' more than three million pre-paid CDMA customers with seamless
access to international mobile roaming on GSM networks and other wireless
technologies. It will also greatly expand Starcomms' international network
coverage compared to its competitors.
Dubois added: "Until now, CDMA operators have been faced with a stark
choice. Either they made the large capital investments in 'Box in a network'
solutions and committed the high operational expenditure necessary to open up
inter-standard access for their customers, or they lost revenue to local
providers of GSM and WiFi services and delivered a service that fell short
of customer expectations. MACH ISR managed service solutions offer a far
more efficient and value added approach to delivering seamless extension of
operators' home networks, without the capital and operational costs -
unlocking new revenue opportunities for operators, and providing
cost-effective convenience for their customers."
The ISR solution from MACH uses the Accuris Networks AccuROAM
inter-working platform for voice and SMS, and MACH's own patented Mobile IP
Proxy for seamless data roaming. It is delivered through a proven managed
services infrastructure, and offers turnkey inter-operability between
wireless technologies, including CDMA, 1X/EVDO, GSM, GPRS/UMTS, WiFi, WiMax
and, soon, LTE. The solution, which can be implemented using existing
connections, offers end-users all of the services that are available on their
home network, even when they are travelling. With end-to-end, one number
inter-operability, operators can provide complete voice and messaging
services without the time and investment required to build their own
platform.
"Accuris Networks has consistently led the way in providing
inter-standard and inter-technology roaming solutions," said Gilbert Little,
Chairman, Accuris Networks. "This latest move in conjunction with our partner
MACH is the latest in a line of successful firsts. We are fully committed to
continuing that trend and, in addition to supporting pre-paid inter-standard
roaming, we also provide support for integrated cellular and IP networks to
enable IP Offload and seamless Wi-Fi based roaming."
By adopting MACH's ISR solution, Starcomms is able to enhance customer
satisfaction and increase revenues in two ways. Firstly, by providing
seamless pre-paid international roaming access to customers, the operator
will command a greater share of revenues that would otherwise be spent on
technologies like local prepaid GSM SIM cards or hotel and airport WiFi.
Secondly, the operator will further enhance customer satisfaction and
increase customers' mobile usage by delivering a full portfolio of voice
services and applications to customers wherever they are in the world,
through one device and with one bill.
"Starcomms is dedicated to providing innovative products and services
that continuously simplify and enhance the lives of our customers," said
Maher Qubain, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Starcomms Plc
Nigeria. "The addition of inter-standard roaming
capabilities to our portfolio will provide even greater choice and
deliver even higher levels of service to our customers, which will open up
new and profitable revenue streams for Starcomms. Once again, Starcomms
changes the CDMA landscape in Nigeria as it opens up roaming to its
customers."
Starcomms will protect its existing technology investments by leveraging
the MACH ISR solution's out-of-the-box compatibility with the technologies
operated by roaming partners, using a single point of connectivity that
provides a cost-effective extension of network coverage. The need for network
installation is eliminated, shortening time-to-market and reducing capital
investment. Simplified, zone-based pricing and access to GSM, CDMA and WiMAX
networks through one single agreement significantly reduce operating costs so
that operators can offer lower end-user prices.
About Starcomms Nigeria
Starcomms Plc, Nigeria's leading telecommunications operator and foremost
triple-play (mobile, fixed wireless broadband) services provider started
operation in 1999 by providing only fixed wireless services, a market segment
it began to lead by 2005.The company is the first telecommunication operator
to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and has over 3 million
subscribers on its network.
A CDMA 3G Mobile network, the company is a pioneer in the provision of 3G
broadband service in Nigeria, using 2000 Ev-Do. Starcomms is the first
company in Africa to launch Ev-Do high speed broadband services in June 2006.
The network now has nationwide mobile services,
holding a 10-year (renewable) technology-neutral national unified
license, which allows for a full range of telecommunication services in
Nigeria as well as international gateway services.
About Accuris Networks
Accuris Networks is a leading provider of Roaming Inter-Working and
Convergence solutions. Established in 1997, Accuris Networks is headquartered
in Dublin, Ireland with offices in the United States and Malaysia. Developed
and managed by a team with unrivalled experience in service convergence and
service continuity, the AccuROAM platform provides a competitive, cost
effective and robust inter-working platform designed to enable seamless
mobility across multiple network technologies including GSM, CDMA, Wi-Fi,
WiMAX and LTE.
About MACH
MACH operates the world's leading hub-based mobile communications
exchange, uniting the global telecommunications marketplace. MACH HUB-XC(R)
provides the platform for the efficient exchange of mobile traffic, of
service validation, delivery and billing information, and of settlement
transactions. MACH is the largest provider of data and financial clearing
solutions for wireless roaming and operates the world's largest open
connectivity roaming hub, Link2One. Headquartered in Luxembourg, MACH has
offices in 12 countries and employs more than 1,000 people worldwide. MACH
serves more than 650 customers, including Orange, Telefonica, T-Mobile,
Vodafone, Verizon Wireless and Microsoft, as well as enterprise messaging
customers like KLM. For further information, visit http://www.mach.com.
Enquiries
MACH
Eileen Preston, Global PR Manager
Eipr@mach.com
Tel: +44(0)20-7959-8119
Source: MACH
Enquiries: MACH, Eileen Preston, Global PR Manager, Eipr@mach.com, Tel: +44(0)20-7959-8119