Quiconnect

May 23, 2007

Quiconnect opens up the Asian Wi-Fi market for its international telecoms customers

• New interconnection agreements signed with VSNL (India), Airborne Access (Philippines), True (Thailand) and CTCL (China)
• Over 7,500 additional hotspots now available in Asia, with hotspot growth in China set to increase significantly
• For the first time, Chinese and Indian Wi-Fi users will have international access as they travel globally and need Internet connectivity in Europe, USA and Asia
• Quiconnect opens office in Hong Kong and appoints new regional manager to capitalise on Asian market opportunity

May 23, 2007 ? Quiconnect today announces that it has signed several major bilateral Wi-Fi roaming agreements to extend Wi-Fi services in Asia for its customers which comprise of some of the the world’s leading global telecoms companies.  This will see hotspot access considerably enhanced for international travellers visiting India, Thailand, the Philippines and China, with over 7,500 locations in total now available.

Quiconnect has completed contract negotiations with wireless ISP, Airborne Access, to provide Wi-Fi roaming services throughout the Philippines across its network of 550 hotspots, and True, a leading Thai network operator, which adds 3,700 hotpots in the Greater Bangkok area and beyond.  A deal with India’s first and largest ISP, VSNL[1], adds a further 250 hotspots at high traffic locations including 15 international and national airports, cricket stadiums, numerous cafes, hospitals, banks and shopping malls. VSNL plans to open another 1,000 hotspots this year to increase Internet access to business and net-savvy travellers on the move.

A partnership with Coordinate Technologies Communication Limited (CTCL), a systems integrator, establishes bilateral Wi-Fi roaming services with CTCL’s major Chinese carrier customers - China Mobile, China Netcom and China Telecom.  For the first time, this will open up 3,000 Chinese hotspots to travellers visiting the country, as well as allowing Chinese consumers themselves access to global Wi-Fi networks when they are on business abroad. 

Based on its heritage in the area of Wi-Fi integration among telcos and network operators, Quiconnect has also been chosen as the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA)-approved WRIX[2] partner for VSNL and True. One of only three independent companies to have achieved WRIX accreditation, this will see Quiconnect provide all Wi-Fi systems integration for both of these Asian carriers among the WBA membership, comprising 28 of the world’s leading telcos, as well as with non-WBA companies. 

Along with China, Quiconnect is opening up, for the first time, international Wi-Fi access for Indians travelling globally through the deal with VSNL.  In a phased rollout, Quiconnect will be carrying out all the technical work to implement 12 interconnections with WBA members.

Troy Simoni, Quiconnect’s chief executive officer, says, “The Asia markets are of course extraordinarily large.  What’s also interesting is how progressive many of the carriers in Asia are.  With the market expanding so rapidly, many of the Asian carriers are bypassing some of the legacy networks and emphasizing IP-based wireless networks such as Wi-Fi and WiMAX. Quiconnect’s expertise and leadership in this space are now well recognized in the industry, so it’s a natural fit.  That’s why we’ve set up a new office in Hong Kong, and appointed an experienced regional manager to build our business in the Asia markets to capitalise on this growth potential.”

The new agreement with CTCL and Quiconnect will see Wi-Fi access first established for  SFR and Airborne Access with other major carriers following once commercial negotiations are completed.  Services are expected to be live by the end of Q2 2007.         

With 95% share of the Chinese telecoms market, China Mobile, China Netcom and China Telecom, are the country’s major telcos, currently operating 3,000 hotspots at key strategic locations including 43 airports, hundreds of hotels and retail sites, convention centres, offices, and coffee bars including all Starbucks locations in Beijing. 

The number of Wi-Fi hotspots and Chinese business Wi-Fi subscribers are set to increase significantly over the next 12 months as a result of the considerable investment strategy in China and the explosive demand from Chinese businesses for Wi-Fi services, given users have been historically isolated from international Wi-Fi networks. CTCL has anticipated that the numbers of hotspots could grow to over 9,000 within the next 12 months.

Jason Liang, CTCL’s chief executive officer, explains, “With deregulation of the Chinese telecoms market due by 2008, historically state-owned Chinese telcos are suddenly having to operate in a commercial environment with huge competition from abroad.  CTCL is partnering with Quiconnect to help these companies compete internationally by working with foreign carriers to offer data roaming services, especially Wi-Fi access so that they can maximise business opportunities and deliver quality services to customers in China and overseas.”

According to statistics from the Chinese National Tourist Office, total visitor counts to China reached over 124 million[3] while, in the same period, more than 31 million Chinese nationals travelled abroad ? a number increasing 25% year on year.  The UK is one of the top destinations for Chinese business travellers, along with the US, Japan, France and Germany.

Kai Liang, CTCL’s vice president of international business development, adds, “The Chinese Government took a strategic decision to delay 3G service roll out and, as WiMAX is embryonic currently, Wi-Fi is in effect the only convenient and cost effective way to access the Internet wirelessly.    The Beijing Olympics next year is clearly going to drive demand further with thousands expected to visit China to watch the games.”

The Quiconnect?CTCL partnership will stimulate Wi-Fi awareness and usage by giving both Chinese and international Wi-Fi users the confidence that business grade, user friendly Wi-Fi connectivity is available anywhere, any time, and at affordable prices.

Foreign telcos are therefore particularly attracted to China in terms of promoting their Wi-Fi services, not just because of the size of the market potential, but also because 3G technology does not compete locally which evidently increases the opportunity and commercial value to them. 

Jeff Mabe, Quiconnect’s worldwide commercial director, says, “In contrast to other Wi-Fi roaming solutions, we are unique in supporting the specific requirements of carriers as they provide Wi-Fi roaming into China, particularly regarding brand control which is key.”

- Ends -

Notes to editors

About Quiconnect

Quiconnect is a specialist provider of systems integration and interconnectivity management solutions for telecommunications carriers in the wireless broadband sector.  Through its carrier-grade interconnection management platform, Quiconnect connects discrete commercial IP networks worldwide to create multiple custom-tailored virtual networks, uniquely configured and branded for individual carriers.  It provides unique technologies to simplify and securely automate user connections to these virtual networks, provides monitoring and support tools, manages accounting records, and provides financial settlement services in partnership with established clearing houses.

Quiconnect provides custom tools, technology and services to manage interconnections for multiple bilateral roaming and access agreements - ensuring end-to-end integrity, reducing costs, and enabling a consistent carrier-branded user interface across multiple networks, platforms and applications.  Headquartered in London UK, Quiconnect was founded in 2001 and has offices in France, the USA, and Hong Kong.. 

For more information, visit www.quiconnect.com.    

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Tom Herbst
KDL
+44 (0)7768 145571
tom@tomherbstpr.co.uk

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