MTC-Vodafone starts prepaid data roaming

September 11, 2006
GSM>3G Middle East & Gulf Daily

Kuwaiti operator MTC-Vodafone has begun offering data roaming to its prepaid subscribers, using software from US-based company Redknee. Redknee's Unified Rating and Charging System (URCS) is being used to support SMS, MMS and GPRS access for subscribers travelling in some 20 countries.

Abdullah Al-Qabandi, head of prepaid services at MTC-Vodafone, claims that subscriptions have risen dramatically since the service was introduced. "MTC-Vodafone is the first telecommunications company in the Middle East to offer prepaid customers mobile internet service and multimedia messaging when roaming," he said. "Since the launch of this roaming service we have seen subscriptions increase by 15 per cent. We attribute this uptake directly to the accessibility and ease of use of the service:"

Redknee boss Lucas Skoczkowski said that "prepaid service coverage in the past was primarily limited to an operator's home network. With the Redknee solution, operators are able to expand data services to support roaming. This enables operators to offer a prepaid service experience that is on a par with postpaid, and increase ARPU through loyalty, mobile commerce and on-the-go purchase promotions."