iBasis and MTS Ukraine Interconnect to Exchange Mobile International Voice Traffic

iBasis announced that MTS Ukraine, has interconnected with The iBasis Network™ for international voice services. The interconnection with iBasis enables MTS Ukraine to route its international mobile voice traffic over The iBasis Network and expands iBasis’ ability to complete mobile calls in the country.

In selecting iBasis, MTS Ukraine is taking advantage of iBasis’ comprehensive voice products portfolio, which was enhanced by the company’s acquisition of KPN Global Carrier Service in October 2007. MTS Ukraine is utilizing iBasis' International Premium Service (IPS), with its high quality and enhanced feature set for mobile operators. The synergy between KPN Global Carrier Services and iBasis enables the combined company to provide mobile operators important mobile features such as guaranteed CLI and global roaming.

Intense competition in mobile and in the international wholesale market are driving operators worldwide to find more competitive solutions based on quality, efficiency, scale and profitability. Mobile operators are also looking for future-proof solutions that will help them to compete in the new arena of converged technologies and services.

“Mobile operators are increasingly recognizing the importance of an effective strategy for moving to IP and working with global partners that can help them to increase efficiency in their international business,” said Ofer Gneezy, president and CEO of iBasis. “With approximately 24 billion minutes of annual international voice traffic, we are now one of the three largest carriers of international phone calls in the world (1). We have enhanced our global product portfolio to provide mobile operators with compelling solutions for their international business. Our proven resources and expertise in IP combined with KPN Global Carriers Services’ mobile expertise is enhancing the growth, efficiency and profitability of leading mobile network operators such as MTS Ukraine."

"Instant scalable access to international infrastructure allows us to grow our traffic while continuing to offer world standard services to our mobile subscribers," said Andrey Dubovskov, CEO of MTS Ukraine. "As one of the top mobile network operators in Europe, it is important for us to work with leading providers in different telecom branches, including IP-telephony. iBasis has the proven high quality and industry-leading expertise we need.”

Like many telecommunications markets, growth in Ukraine continues to be fuelled by mobile expansion. By the end of February 2008, there were more than 55 million mobile subscribers in Ukraine, with mobile penetration over 118 %. To continue growth and profitability, mobile operators are increasingly focusing on expanding lifetime revenue and profit per customer, and mastering a more competitive market situation.

Based on KPN Global Carrier Services established business in mobile services, iBasis has relationships with more than 100 mobile operators, as well as international traffic from KPN's Dutch, German, and Belgian operations. In addition to a reliable international routing product portfolio, iBasis offers a comprehensive portfolio of value-added services for Mobile Operators, and MVNOs. Called Mobile Matrix, the mobile data services portfolio offers a wide range of value added mobile services that can be hosted in iBasis infrastructure.