Dimension Data Holdings plc`s Asian subsidiary, Datacraft Asia has won a US$9 million contract with China`s leading Internet service provider, JiTong Network Communications Corporation to deploy its iBOSS next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) billing and messaging infrastructure across 166 cities in China. Designed to help service providers implement new Internet-based services fast and manage them cost-effectively, Datacraft`s iBOSS portfolio of software and services will support JiTong`s fast-growing broadband Internet access and web hosting business throughout mainland China.
The Datacraft-engineered billing architecture will let JiTong swiftly launch new services and pricing plans, while the new messaging system will bring speedier and more reliable e-mail communication services to over one million of its subscribers.
"To maintain our competitive-edge with new enhanced services, we need a highly scalable billing solution that can help us quickly develop and price new value-added services to target individual market segments," said Mr Yu, Vice President of JiTong Network Communications.
"Datacraft`s iBOSS billing solution will not only accomplish that, it will also allow us to strategically manage customer usage and accounts in real-time and dramatically improve our customer relationship management capabilities.
"The implementation of Datacraft`s state-of-the-art email messaging system will also help us cope with a huge and growing subscriber base, and meet our users` demands for the latest email management features such as advanced security and SPAM prevention, " said Yu.
The core of Datacraft`s iBOSS IP billing and customer relationship management system is the Portal Infranet, which offers multi-level customer hierarchies that will enable JiTong to easily design complex service bundles to meet diverse customer needs. This will give users not only a single sign-on for a wide variety of messaging services, but also provides a single bill for all services and a detailed billing feed to support it.
Datacraft`s new state-of-the-art messaging platform from Openwave`s Intermail will accommodate millions of users on a single architecture. This innovative messaging platform provides JiTong`s subscribers with the latest advances in messaging services, while delivering continuous availability and heightened security to ensure that communications are delivered as intended.
Datacraft will also deploy a suite of network-enhancement solutions that will ensure complete, uninterrupted data availability to JiTong`s mission-critical network. Once completed, the solution will minimise network downtime and greatly enhance JiTong`s system availability round-the-clock.
"JiTong`s decision to engage Datacraft to take on this mammoth billing and messaging solution across 166 cities in China wasn`t made lightly," Yu added. "Datacraft has a long-standing track record of delivering high value solutions and we are confident in entrusting them to take on the planning, engineering, project management and integration of this project for us."
"This endorsement from JiTong underscores a strong continuous uptake of our iBOSS solution around the region. Since its launch last year, our iBOSS suite of business and operation support systems is fast becoming an strategic tool used by companies to speed up the deployment and delivery of new IP-based services," said Wong Wen Ming, Datacraft`s director of marketing.
"We are pleased with this new win as it would further consolidate our market lead and accelerate our momentum of strong growth. It is another clear demonstration of Datacraft`s success in the rapidly growing services and software side of Telecom infrastructure," Wong added.
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Dimension Data Holdings plc (LSE: DDT), is a leading technology company that represents a new category of systems integrator providing network and multi-channel e-business solutions to global corporations.
Founded in 1983 as a specialist supplier of technology and services, Dimension Data`s strategy has evolved with the emergence of the intelligent network as the most important enabler in business today. Dimension Data`s global presence combined with its expertise and extensive skills base in network infrastructure and e-business solutions environments enables its customers to ascend into the global marketplace through 100% connectivity and integration.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Dimension Data is a member of the FTSE 100 index, employs over 12 000 people and operates in over 30 countries on six continents. Dimension Data has achieved a three-year compound annual growth rate in US dollars of 73% in revenue and 36% in basic earnings per share. For more information, please go to www.didata.com
Dimension Data owns 50.1% of Datacraft Asia following an original investment in 1997.
Datacraft Asia is the region`s leading independent network systems integrator and e-business enabler. Listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange, Datacraft is in the business of building and managing Internet infrastructure, implementing online business solutions and delivering value-add networking services for service providers and corporate customers across Asia Pacific.
The company offers unparalleled regional coverage and specialist support with its extensive network of 62 offices throughout Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan and Korea. Datacraft is a member of the Dimension Data Group. Listed on London Stock Exchange, Dimension Data is a leading global network services and iCommerce solutions provider. More information about Datacraft Asia can be found on the Web at www.datacraft-asia.com.
JiTong Network Communications owns the National Public Economic Information Communication Network. It constructs, operates and manages ChinaGBN (www.gb.com.cn), one of the five largest business networks in China with 53 nodes in major cities. ChinaGBN`s dial-up access number is 167. JiTong is also one of only four companies to have been approved by the Chinese Government to provide nationwide IP telephony services. Through its IP telephony access number 17920, JiTong`s users can reach numerous cities within China and more than 170 other countries.
JiTong also operates a broadband network that provides individuals, enterprises and group users with Internet, IP telephony, frame relay, satellite communications and microwave communications services.
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