Sonatel, Senegal`s national phone company, is set to benefit from increased traffic volumes and a more reliable international calling service after signing an interconnection agreement with Gateway Communications, the provider of quality international voice and data services throughout Africa and the Middle East.
The agreement sees Sonatel gaining access to Gateway`s established network across Africa, as well as terminating international telephone calls in Senegal, and Gateway providing Sonatel with low cost, reliable international calling services.
Says Mike van den Bergh, Gateway Communications South Africa MD: "Sonatel is at the forefront of communications in West Africa, and these services will enable the company to increase its revenue by preventing telephone calls entering the country illegally and by targeting traditional and non-traditional sources of traffic such as the international calling-card market."
The services will also result in the lower cost of outbound calls to key international destinations, such as European mobile networks, through Gateway`s targeted route management product.
Gateway will install equipment at Sonatel`s international switching centre and utilise dedicated satellite capacity to ensure that Gateway`s customers and Sonatel`s subscribers are provided with optimum quality of service. As a result, Gateway is able to deliver the cost-savings of voice over IP technology but with the quality of a traditional telephone network.
Says Papa Gana Mbengue, Head of International Relations at Sonatel: "This agreement will enable us to provide our customers in Senegal with world-class voice services and continue to build our country`s reputation as a leading African centre for commerce and industry."
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Gateway Communications (previously FirstNet) is a leading provider of communications services to carriers, multinationals and enterprises throughout Africa and the Middle East.
With operations dating back to 1991, Gateway Communications is one of the most established operators in Africa and has been responsible for pioneering the delivery of cost-effective voice, data and e-commerce services throughout the region.
Company highlights include:
* One of the first companies in SA to be granted a VANS licence in September 1991;
* The striking of an historic agreement with British Telecom to provide Africa`s first global managed data link in 1993;
* The creation of the largest electronic trading communities in southern Africa with endorsement from industry bodies and;
* The creation of one of the most extensive pan-African multi-service networks.
Gateway Communications has developed the local presence, skills and expertise combined with the global infrastructure and relationships to uniquely meet the voice and data communications needs of local telecommunications operators and businesses operating within Africa and the Middle East.
Sonatel
Sonatel is the telecommunications incumbent in Senegal and was privatised in July 1997 with its strategic partner French Telecom taking up 42.33% of the capital and the rest held by the government (27.67%), the employees (10%), the private/professionals (20%). As a global operator, Sonatel supports a portfolio of voice, data and mobile products using an advanced fully digital network of switches, submarine fibre and satellite links, with direct connections to more than 35 countries worldwide. Sonatel has one of the largest Internet bandwidth capacities in Africa. Using this infrastructure, Sonatel has consolidated its position as a regional hub for West African communications.
Further information at http://www.sonatel.sn/.
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