2008 News Releases
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Signs Multi-Million Dollar Contract
Redknee Enables Major Fixed-Line Operator in Africa to Quickly Deploy Fully Converged Billing Solution to Support New “Be MOBILE” GSM Operation
TORONTO – July 16, 2008 - Redknee Solutions Inc. (AIM: RKN), a leading provider of mission-critical software and services for communications service providers, today announced that its Turnkey Converged Billing Solution has been selected by Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), a government owned communications service provider in Africa.
In addition to its fixed-line and Internet operations, BTC recently acquired a GSM license to launch prepaid and postpaid wireless services branded as Be MOBILE. Redknee’s Turnkey Converged Billing (TCB) solution manages all of BTC’s retail wireless billing needs. A successful and speedy implementation was a key factor in the selection of Redknee’s TCB solution, along with BTC’s need for a flexible, end-to-end solution with the ability to quickly launch new wireless services. Redknee was able to meet these demanding requirements while delivering significant value on their investment.
Mr. Michael R. Carroll, Acting CEO for BTC, commented, “We needed a flexible billing platform capable of handling real-time charging for both prepaid and postpaid subscribers for a variety of services. It was also important that the solution have the potential to deliver support for all transactions across multiple access technologies, including GSM, WiMax and fixed-line. Redknee’s TCB Solution met our tight timeframe for deployment and offered the right combination of a proven, cost effective and efficient architecture, while providing an evolutionary path to address future needs, including new multi-media and mobile-payment services.”
Botswana is experiencing tremendous growth in both the wireless and Internet arenas. According to the Botswana Telecommunications Authority, Botswana’s regulatory body, wireless subscribers have gone from 0 in 1998 to 961,000 today, with an average annual growth rate of 200%. With current fixed-line penetration at just 10% and wireless penetration at 16%, there is ample room for growth to continue.
BTC will benefit from the complete Redknee TCB portfolio, including real-time converged rating, subscriber management, invoicing, billing and settlement, and real-time analytics. These advanced functionalities will enable BTC to serve a broader base of customers with a uniform set of subscriber–centric services, such as real-time loyalty promotions.
“Redknee is increasing its investment and presence in the African market, and is looking forward to a long partnership with BTC,” stated Lucas Skoczkowski, CEO at Redknee. “We are pleased to have been selected by BTC and will fully support them over the coming years as their subscriber base continues to grow and as their services continue to evolve. In selecting the Redknee solution, BTC is demonstrating its commitment to delivering increased responsiveness and world leading value-added services to its customers.”
For more information about Redknee, visit www.redknee.com.
About Redknee:
Redknee is a leading global provider of innovative communication software products, solutions and services. Redknee's award-winning solutions enable operators to monetize the lifetime value of each subscriber transaction while personalizing the subscriber experience to meet mainstream, niche and individual market segment requirements. Redknee's revenue generating solutions provide advanced converged billing, rating, charging and policy for voice, messaging and new generation data services to over 60 network operators in over 50 countries. Established in 1999, Redknee Solutions Inc.(RKN : AIM) is the parent of the wholly-owned operating subsidiary Redknee Inc. and its various subsidiaries. References to Redknee refer to the combined operations of those entities. For more information, visit http://www.redknee.com/
About Botswana Telecommunications Corporation:
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) is Botswana's largest supplier of fixed-line and associated communications services, and is charged with providing telephony and other products to urban and rural centres across the country. Botswana Telecommunications Corporation was established in 1980 to provide, develop, operate and manage Botswana's national and international telecommunications services. BTC is a parastatal in which the Botswana government holds 100% equity. For more information, visit www.btc.bw.
About Redknee:
Redknee is a leading global provider of innovative communication software products, solutions and services. Redknee's award-winning solutions enable operators to monetize the lifetime value of each subscriber transaction while personalizing the subscriber experience to meet mainstream, niche and individual market segment requirements. Redknee's revenue generating solutions provide advanced converged billing, rating, charging and policy for voice, messaging and new generation data services to over 70 network operators in over 50 countries. Established in 1999, Redknee Solutions Inc.(TSX: RKN) is the parent of the wholly-owned operating subsidiary Redknee Inc. and its various subsidiaries. References to Redknee refer to the combined operations of those entities. For more information, visit http://www.redknee.com/.
