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Quiconnect
Opens Up The Asian Wi-Fi Market For Its International Telecoms Customers
Other topics: Bilateral Wi-Fi
Roaming Access, WiMAX Interoperability
Testing, WiMAX Subscriber Growth,
Enhanced GPS Measurements,
WiMAX Financing
Quiconnect
May 23, 2007
- 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
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 some of 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. |
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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.
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." |
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