BICS and AICENT Sign World’s First IPX Peering Agreement

Joint Private Network forms the basis for Next Generation Mobile IP Services

Brussels, 13 March, 2012: BICS, a global provider of wholesale carrier services and Aicent, Inc. a provider of mobile data services, today announced a formal agreement to interconnect their IPX (IP-Exchange) communities. This landmark IPX peering agreement, the first of its kind, allows communication service providers to access a secure and managed IP network that supports mobile data, VoIP and LTE roaming.

The IPX peering agreement between BICS and Aicent will see the two largest data roaming providers commit to the rollout of an integrated network infrastructure that combines the flexibility and efficiency of IP, with the security and quality of traditional TDM interconnect.

Communication service providers will benefit from an IPX Transport solution allowing them to become part of a private community, shared by BICS and Aicent, where they can easily establish interworking and roaming bi-lateral agreements with trusted partners within a secure and managed IP network environment. Additional multilateral services, such as VoIP and LTE Roaming, will soon be possible through this peering agreement.

Mikael Schachne, VP Mobile Data Business Management at BICS, explained: “This initiative represents a significant step forward for the international telecom industry. It will accelerate the adoption of IPX as the standard for next-generation IP-based services between mobile operators, fixed-line providers, MVNOs and OTT players. The IPX peering agreement delivers a private and secure IP backbone that will help communications service providers to expand their business globally for international voice and data services.”

Aicent’s VP of Product Marketing, MK Chang commented: “This agreement between BICS and Aicent marks the formation of the world’s largest IPX network, offering unmatched global IP coverage while giving communication service providers a platform for their all-IP anything to anywhere services. This gives our connected mobile carriers an incredible opportunity to offer world class IP-based interworking and roaming services. Our partnership with BICS serves as a significant IPX milestone for the global telecommunications industry.”

The dual network infrastructure is underpinned by the end-to-end mapping of ‘IP Classes of Service’. This will ensure that service providers using the network will experience the same ‘Quality of Service’ for peering destinations as if they were directly connected to their own IPX. BICS and Aicent’s existing customers will be the first to take advantage of this framework which will enable the seamless delivery of critical traffic at the highest possible quality level, while meeting the increasing bandwidth and demand of new data services in a cost effective way.

Notes to editor

IPX represents a new GSMA-defined communications ecosystem for mobile operators, fixed operators, application service providers and OTT players that supports multiple services — voice, data and signalling — over a single IP connection and provides many other benefits, including: higher-quality services, enhanced voice quality, capital and operating expense savings, and cascaded billing and payments. An IPX is physically and logically separate from the public Internet, ensuring security.

About BICS

BICS delivers best in class global solutions for Voice, Messaging, Roaming, Connectivity and Mobile Financial Services to hundreds of telecommunication providers around the world. With our passionate and creative teams located in Brussels, Bern, Monaco, Dubai, Singapore and New York, we continuously strive to provide our customers with the highest levels of quality, reliability and interoperability that enable them to maximise end-user value. Our innovative approach is visible through our place at the forefront of the market consolidation and technology advancement. We are a joint venture of Belgacom, Swisscom and MTN, and have rolled out transformative Next Generation Networks (NGN). This together with our continued focus on Value Added Services for Mobile Operators and our growth strategy has enabled us to reach a world-leading position both on the International Voice and Mobile Data markets. For more information, please visit: www.bics.com.

About Aicent, Inc.

Serving more than three billion mobile users around the world, Aicent, Inc. is a leading IPX provider of data network services and solutions for global mobile operators. To enable interoperability between Aicent customers and other networks, Aicent operates one of the world’s largest mobile IPX network exchanges connecting to over 180 operators, including nine of the world’s ten largest. Through extensive peering arrangements, the Aicent network reaches nearly all 3G and LTE operators around the world. The company’s global IPX network incorporates an integrated mobile messaging exchange, value added data roaming and global reach infrastructure services, including the world’s first and largest multimedia messaging exchange, designed to help carriers maximize revenue opportunities. For more information, visit www.aicent.com.

For further information, please contact:

Rufus Jay, Consultant

Babel PR

rufus@babelpr.com

+44 207 434 5550