UTStarcom to Power Bell & Tell Broadband Voice and Data Services in Pakistan with IP-Based GEPON and VoIP Solutions
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 11 / / -- GULFCOMMS -- UTStarcom, Inc. (NASDAQ:UTSI), a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services, today announced a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract with Bell & Tell, Pvt. Ltd., to offer bundled voice and data services in Pakistan using UTStarcom's Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GEPON) and VoIP technologies. Representatives from Bell & Tell and UTStarcom will be discussing the new relationship and forthcoming deployment at UTStarcom's booth #Z-E1, stand ZA at GULFCOMMS during GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
This win demonstrates UTStarcom's continued commitment and success in the EMEA region delivering innovative and cost-effective broadband, VoIP and IPTV solutions to fixed carriers and cable operators, while leveraging field-proven, scalable and easy-to-deploy Fiber to the Home/Building (FTTH/B) technology.
The broadband voice and data deployment by Bell & Tell is scheduled to roll out in phases. The first phase will consist of a multi-million dollar deployment of UTStarcom's GEPON, a FTTH/B platform that is designed to deliver high-speed voice, data and video services to residential and business subscribers. An iAN-08E Series VoIP Gateway will also be integrated into the network -- extending the existing phone equipment's functionality by enabling an end-to-end interconnection between legacy analog phones and voice-enabled broadband networks. Maxim Telecom, UTStarcom's local reseller, will help with the deployment of the network. The second phase, which will start in Q1 2008, involves expansion to additional regions in Pakistan.
"Due to the changing telecom climate in Pakistan, Bell & Tell plans to aggressively deploy new voice and data network technologies in the coming months, with plans to exceed 100,000 subscribers using the company's broadband and next generation network (NGN) services in the next two to three years," said Shafqat Iqbal, CEO of Bell & Tell. "With UTStarcom's complete end-to-end, IP-based GEPON and VoIP solutions, our company will enjoy more flexibility in our deployments and offerings and become better equipped to answer the individual needs of our customers and ensure that we remain at the forefront of that climate change."
The current Pakistani telecom market is facing deregulation, and the area is experiencing consistent annual growth in telecommunications usage. The combined teledensity in the region's fixed, mobile and wireless local loop is currently 45 percent, a significant 62 percent increase over last year's teledensity figures. With its FTTH/B broadband, VoIP and IPTV solutions, UTStarcom is positioned to help emerging carriers build an infrastructure that supports triple play applications over their steadily evolving NGN.
"We are pleased to partner with Bell & Tell to bring unlimited end user services and applications to this market, enabled by UTStarcom's completely IP-based GEPON Fiber-To-The-Home solution," said Youssef Kassissia, vice president of sales, EMEA Region, UTStarcom. "As UTStarcom's Fiber-To-The- Home/Building market share expands across the EMEA region, we are proving our commitment to not only expand our global client base, but to provide an efficient broadband infrastructure alternative that promises to be an innovative experience."
About Bell & Tell
Abottabad, Pakistan-based Bell & Tell, Pvt. Ltd. is an affiliate of Worldcall Telecommunication, Ltd. The company was founded in 1995 to provide voice services throughout Pakistan.
About UTStarcom, Inc.
UTStarcom is a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and international service and support. The company sells its broadband, wireless, and handset solutions to operators in both emerging and established telecommunications markets around the world. UTStarcom enables its customers to rapidly deploy revenue-generating access services using their existing infrastructure, while providing a migration path to cost-efficient, end-to-end IP networks. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Alameda, California, the company has research and development operations in the United States, Canada, China, Korea and India. For more information about UTStarcom, visit the company's Web site at http://www.utstar.com/.
Source: UTStarcom, Inc.
CONTACT: Manish Matta, Director, International Marketing of UTStarcom, Inc., +1-847-631-9516, manish.matta@utstar.com
Web site: http://www.utstar.com/
