MobilTel, Bulgaria's No. 1 mobile operator, uses NetCentrex NGN Solutions to deliver fixed-mobile convergence

PARIS (France) Feb 8 (PROTEXT/PRNewswire) - MobilTel usesNetCentrex' NGN solutions to deploy fixed-mobile convergedservices for the enterprise market.

NetCentrex(R) (http://www.netcentrex.net), the leadingenabler of converged voice-video-data networks and next-generation services, and MobilTel AD, Bulgaria's number 1 mobileoperator with 3 million subscribers, announced today thatMobilTel AD has selected NetCentrex' NGN solutions to offer IP-based telephony services to business users. Integration will becarried out by Lirex BG Ltd.

MobilTel AD was founded in March 1994 and today is thelargest mobile operator in Bulgaria, with over 3 millionsubscribers. Operating under the M-Tel brand, MobilTel's servicescover more than 90% of Bulgaria's territory and more than 98% ofits population. The company has roaming agreements with 307operators from 135 countries and GPRS roaming agreements with 51operators from 32 countries all over the world.

MobilTel's dedication to remaining at the forefront of thetelecoms market and to bringing the best available technologiesand features to its subscribers was the driving force behind thecompany's decision to optimize its core IP network and to deploynew, IP-based communications services which would enable fixedmobile convergence. MobilTel chose NetCentrex solutions for thedeployment.

Michael Foley, CCO at MobilTel explains: "NetCentrex is theonly company truly capable of providing Fixed Mobile ConvergedSolutions. We have been testing the NetCentrex platform for overa year, benchmarking it with its main competitors. Some customersare already connected to the platform and benefit from FixedMobile Converged Services. The high functionality of theNetCentrex NGN solutions, the huge number of features and thepossibility to share core technologies make them extremely costeffective. The ability to create new and innovative servicesenables MobilTel to generate new revenue streams, reduce churnand prepare the introduction of Broadband Wireless Services on anaffordable and IMS future-proof platform."

"MobilTel is the first mobile operator in Europe to introducea true IP-based Fixed Mobile Converged Solution," states OlivierHersent, Chairman and CTO of NetCentrex, "The fact that IP basedservices are able to reduce costs by up to 10 times compared toTDM technology is obviously a major factor in MobilTel'sstrategy. However, MobilTel's recent deployments have shown thatthey see much further. The technologies deployed by the companytoday will enable services such as Fixed-Mobile VideoCommunications, Media Services for Edge, 2.5G and 3G deploymentsin the future, opening up whole new revenue possibilities andmeaning that MobilTel has made a very wise, long-terminvestment."

"MobilTel has taken advantage of the newly liberalizedBulgarian Telecom market and the advanced functionality of theNetCentrex solutions to create a unique service. Combiningmobility with IP based services makes the value proposition tothe end user exceptional and has enabled MobilTel to become atruly global Telecom Provider," concludes Boris Dezier, GeneralManager for Central and Eastern Europe at NetCentrex.About NetCentrex(TM) (http://www.netcentrex.net)

NetCentrex develops unique next generation network (NGN)voice and video solutions that optimize network infrastructureand enable telecom operators and service providers to delivervoice-video-data and fixed-mobile converged services for both theresidential and enterprise markets.

Solutions include IP telephony, video communications, TriplePlay, IP Centrex, voice/video VPN, contact center and IVRservices. All solutions are built on the NetCentrex Softswitch,Media Server and Systém Management platforms that provide coreinfrastructure, network connectivity, class IV services andsingle point of provisioning.

Founded in 1998, NetCentrex has sales and partnerrepresentatives in over 25 countries and over 40 operator andservice provider customers. Leading European and US venturecapital firms back the privately held company.About MobilTel AD (http://www.mtel.bg)

MobilTel AD is the number 1 Bulgarian mobile operator and oneof the most successful mobile operators in Europe. The companywas founded in March 1994 and launched its first commercialservices in September 1995. Delivering mobile communicationsunder the M-Tel brand, the company celebrated it's 3 millionthsubscriber in September 2004 and continues to keep the biggestmarket share in its sector - over 67%. M-Tel has the best networkcoverage in Bulgaria, reaching over 90% of the Bulgarianterritory and more than 98% of the country's population. MobilTelAD has roaming agreements with 307 operators from 135 countriesall over the world. More than 100 000 subscribers use servicesvia GPRS including GPRS roaming abroad.

M-Tel is a progressive and innovative company that caresabout its customers and appreciates customer loyalty. The companyconstantly follows its mission to be engaged in Bulgariansociety, and supports many events in the fields of culture,education and the arts.

In May 2004, MobilTel changed ownership for EUR 1.2 billion.This is the largest ever acquisition in Central and EasternEurope. Among the new investors are ABN AMRO Capital, CitigroupInvestments Inc., Communications Venture Partners Limited.

In November, MobilTel completed the first bond issue from aprivately-owned Bulgarian company with the sale of EUR 200m offive-year bonds.Source: NetCentrexPress contacts: NetCentrex EMEA, Madeleine Jeavons, Tel : +33-(0)1-58-71-33-28 Email: pr@netcentrex.net Web site:http://www.netcentrex.net NetCentrex US / Latin America, SusanStearman, Tel: +1-408-521-7421 Email:susan.Stearman@netcentrex.net Web site: http://www.netcentrex.netMobilTel, Konstantin Kamenarov, Tel : +359-88-8500200 Email:pr@mobiltel.bg Web site: http://www.mtel.bg

Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug"PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to bepublished under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial serviceproviding distribution of press releases from clients, who areidentified in the text of Protext reports and who bear fullresponsibility for their contents.PROTEXT