Acision Increases Messaging Capacity for PTML by 700%

Acision Increases Messaging Capacity for PTML by 700%

August 23, 2007

    ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 23 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Acision today announces that following a competitive
tender, leading Pakistani operator Pak Telecom Mobile
Limited (PTML) has upgraded its Acision high performance
Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) to support rapid uptake
of SMS for its mobile service brand, Ufone. PTML is
expanding Ufone's messaging capacity by 700% to handle very
high volumes of messaging traffic and provide subscribers
with a consistently high-quality messaging experience.

    The mobile market in Pakistan has been experiencing
strong and sustained development, reaching above 60 million
subscribers across the country, while still only at a 40%
penetration level. In Pakistan's unsaturated market which
is experiencing falling handset costs, there are a high
number of new subscribers to compete for, with most
operators adding an average of half a million subscribers
per month. However as penetration levels rise, mobile
operators will have to differentiate on superior service
levels if they are to avoid simply competing on price.

    PTML's SMSC extension will provide the operator with a
state-of-the-art messaging platform to meet the growing
demand for SMS messaging among mobile phone users in
Pakistan. Building on an already established relationship
with
Acision as a key messaging infrastructure provider, PTML
can rely on its high performance SMSC to scale ahead of
growing demand and to bring continuous innovation,
anticipating future messaging requirements.

    Mr Mubashir Naqvi, President and CEO for PTML
commented: "There is real opportunity for operators in
Pakistan to grow subscriber bases, but to successfully build
long-term success it is crucial to have a reliable and
advanced infrastructure in place. Acision has provided
quality and innovation in messaging platforms over the past
six years, establishing the company as
PTML's preferred value-added services provider.

    Boudewijn Pesch, Managing Director for Acision in Asia
Pacific, added:
"Pakistan is an exciting market for Acision,
presenting great potential for high performance mobile data
services such as mobile messaging, which operators are
looking to build on as they seek to capture forecasted
revenues. In Pakistan, Acision powers messaging systems for
three out of six mobile operators and globally we process
half of all text and multimedia messages sent daily. This
means that we have not only the experience, presence and
support capability to meet PTML's requirements for today,
but also for its future long-term growth."

    Notes to Editors

    About Acision

    Established in June 2007, Acision launched with more
than 300 clients, serving over one billion customers
worldwide. Renowned for its progressive, exciting and agile
philosophy of innovation along with assured service
delivery, Acision enables network operators, service
providers, broadband operators and content owners to
increase revenues, enhance customer loyalty and capitalise
on the opportunities offered by convergence. With over 43
years of experience, Acision leads the market in Intuitive
Messaging, Intelligent Charging, Content Enablement and
Customer Intelligence Management. Acision is the partner of
choice in high volume mobile data services with over 50 per
cent of global messaging traffic generated through its
platforms.

    Acision was formed following the purchase of
LogicaCMG's Telecoms
Products business for GBP265m (US $525m), by a consortium
led by Atlantic
Bridge Ventures and Access Industries. The company employs
approximately
1,700 people in 22 countries across six continents, and
launched as a half billion US dollar company. More
information is available at
http://www.acision.com

    About Ufone

    Ufone is an Etisalat Group Company and is Pakistan's
second largest cellular operator.

    The company's customer base has now crossed 14 million.
Ufone service is scattered in more than 2,500 cities, towns,
villages and headquarters. The company employs more than
2,200 people. The company operates with a franchise network
of 300 plus and 25 company-owned customer service centres
along with a distribution network of 150,000 outlets across
Pakistan.


    For more information, please contact:

     Radha K Raman
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Kevin Foo / Rani Ramaya
     Upstream Asia
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Scott Allen
     Global Marketing Director, Acision
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     David Ross Tomlin / Bettina Winters
     Hotwire PR
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]