Aricent Wins Three Year Systems Integration Pact With Nepal Telecom

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Aricent®, a global innovation, technology and services company focused exclusively on communications, today announced that Nepal Telecom, Nepal's largest and most prolific telecom operator, has awarded the company a three year systems integration contract to provide Convergent Mediation and Convergent Interconnect Billing solutions that enable a wide range of next-generation communication services.

Following on the heels of Aricent's announcement of its Innovation Lab in support of systems integration for service providers, Aricent will act as the primary systems integrator for Convergent Mediation and Interconnect solutions.  As a turnkey implementation provider offering supply, delivery, installation and commissioning, Aricent will integrate systems, which together enable next-generation product and service offerings for both pre-paid and post-paid customers. In support of the agreement, Aricent will be implementing and integrating its proven and broadly deployed Active Mediation System, in conjunction with Intec's market-leading InterconnecT software. The engagement also includes post-deployment managed services in support of the converged solution.

Nepal Telecom provides a wide range of telecom services to its existing five million customers in a variety of networks such as Fixed, GSM, CDMA and Data. The company's customer base is estimated to grow to over nine million subscribers in the next three years.

"As the leading telecom service provider in Nepal, we strive to bring the best experience to our customers," said Amar Nath Singh, managing director of Nepal Telecom. "We are confident that Aricent's solution will allow us to create a unified mediation platform as well as a single interconnect system for our entire network. This will also simplify billing and operational parameters for our customers, and allow us to provide them with world-class capabilities and technologies, including high speed next-gen networks and services."

"We are thrilled to partner with Nepal Telecom and help them deliver an innovative, scalable subscriber experience for their customers," said Sanjay Dhawan, president and COO at Aricent. "We've had the privilege of working with some of the largest network operators in the world and we are pleased to add Nepal Telecom to our roster of service provider stars."

The broad compatibility of Aricent's solution across different networks and systems will pioneer operational convergence within Nepal Telecom by enabling the operator to create a common, unified mediation platform and a single interconnect system for the entire network. The solution has the potential to reduce total cost of ownership and minimize revenue leakage.

"Intec's market-leading InterconnecT software is proven with operators of all sizes and in numerous markets, worldwide," said Graeme Paynter, vice president for Intec, Asia Pacific.  "InterconnecT continues to demonstrate a level of functionality and performance that simply cannot be matched and we look forward to working with Aricent in helping Nepal Telecom enjoy unrivalled ROI and exceptional operational savings."

Aricent's user friendly Active Mediation System supports real-time data collection and charging for both pre-paid and post-paid services and can process billions of Call Detail Records (CDRs) and Usage Data Records (UDRs). It allows efficient management of services and billing for next generation converged networks, thus improving revenue realization. The intuitive Web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) ensures easy management, while the ready to use plug-in adaptors reduce integration time for new and innovative service launches. It is coupled with the InterconnecT System – an out-of-the-box solution supporting interconnection needs of fixed, mobile and content customers for both national and international operations. The system enables operators to optimize cash flow by equipping them to negotiate agreements that facilitate rapid receipt of revenue and define rates based on traffic volumes while supporting a comprehensive set of discounting scenarios.

Aricent's telecommunications system integration practice delivers advanced and reliable Business Support Systems and Operations Support Systems (BSS/OSS) solutions, and in general, these accelerate the launch of new services, enhance customer experience, improve connectivity and ensure efficient partner settlement and organizational level data consolidation. Particularly, in case of the project with Nepal Telecom, the Convergent Mediation and Convergent Interconnect Billing solutions will be used for its upcoming Convergent Billing System.

About Aricent

Aricent is a global innovation, technology and services company focused exclusively on communications. Aricent combines the leading innovation capabilities of frog design with unparalleled domain expertise in communications as a strategic supplier to the world's foremost infrastructure, application and service providers. The company's investors include Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Sequoia Capital, The Family Office and The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board. For more information, visit http://www.aricent.com

Aricent is a trademark of Aricent Inc., in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Intec

Intec supplies Business Support Systems (BSS) solutions to over 60 of the world's top 100 telecoms carriers, and is one of the world's fastest growing suppliers of BSS solutions. Intec's 400 plus customers include AT&T, Antel, Cable & Wireless, The Carphone Warehouse (UK), China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Eircom (Ireland), France Telecom, Hutchison 3G, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Telefonica, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile, Vivo and Verizon.  Intec works closely with its customers, many of whom have been with Intec since its inception, to add real value and ROI to their business by providing the highest standards of performance, flexibility and robustness to help communications service providers service their customers effectively and profitably. Intec's comprehensive and expanding range of products, solutions and services includes:

• Real Time Charging, Customer Care and Billing management
• Multi-service mediation and service activation
• Inter-carrier billing and settlements, including US CABS and ITU-based settlement
• Content Partner Management
• Optimised Wholesale Routing and Trading

Founded in 1997, Intec is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ITL.L) and has over 1,600 staff and 31 offices in 24 countries. For more information, visit the Intec website at www.intecbilling.com

SOURCE Aricent