Grintek partner Verso's Tandem Softswitch to go to Greece's largest alternative carrier in 50% expansion for Telepassport Hellas

Grintek Telecom, which distributes Verso's Clarent-based VOIP solutions throughout Africa, now offers its customers Verso's Clarent PSTN Access Softswitch solution.

Telepassport Hellas, Greece's largest competitive carrier, has chosen to augment its existing Clarent-based network with Verso's Clarent PSTN Access Softswitch Solution. Verso recently acquired Clarent hardware, software and technology, distributed throughout Africa by Grintek Telecom.

Telepassport Hellas is Greece's largest alternative to the state-run incumbent and put over 150 million revenue generating minutes through Clarent-based networks in 2002. A customer of Clarent technology since 1999, Telepassport Hellas (TPH) offers business and residential customers long-distance carrier selection.

TPH has decided to increase its capacity by approximately 50% to support its wholesale and retail toll bypass business by expanding its network with Verso's Clarent PSTN Softswitch solution. The deployment has begun and will continue through the third quarter of 2003. TelePassport Hellas has placed orders for more than $2.1 million in the first half of 2003.

Says Denis Murphy, Verso's senior vice-president of worldwide sales: "Companies like TelePassport Hellas in Greece and similar companies throughout the US, Europe and Africa represent the future of the telecommunications industry. They require a broad range of solutions that integrate seamlessly, easily and cost-effectively. We have formed a critical mass of applications and telecommunications infrastructure technology that not only will meet our customers' current business model but that is ready for expansion into enterprise and small office/home office environments in Europe, the US, Africa, and Asia. We are pleased with the success realised by Telepassport and look forward to introducing similar telecommunications solutions in the 23 African countries where Grintek is a recognised leader. We are proud that Grintek has chosen to distribute our technology," Murphy continues.

Says Delio Senatore, sales and marketing group executive at Grintek Telecom: "Grintek Telecom has enjoyed a partnership with Clarent since 1999 and the recent acquisition by Verso has broadened Grintek's product offerings to the African market. Grintek Telecom is Verso's partner of choice for the African market and provides first line support and meets the demands for ease of implementation, integration, support and training specialist skills."

"As we look at next steps, distributing Verso's soft switch and enterprise offerings to our customers is clearly high on our list of choices. Verso's Clarent softswitch solutions share the same three tier architectural model which means that not only can the next generation PSTN Access Softswitch solution work with existing networks, it is designed to be easily integrated with Verso's Clarent Edge Access Softswitch solution. Verso's Clarent Edge Access Softswitch solution is a complete end-office solution designed to support enterprise managed services, and residence/SOHO offerings," he adds.

"We've designed these solutions to work together from the start," says Steve Langion, vice-president of soft switch engineering. "Telepassport provides telecommunications services to more than 12% of the Greek population so it was vitally important to give them a clear expansion and upgrade path to meet their changing market. Telepassport is an excellent example of a successful customer that while expanding their current business model can consider new forms of business based on the flexibility of our technology."