Intec, a global provider of business and operations support systems (BSS/OSS) for fixed, mobile and next generation network providers, has signed a million pound deal to supply Intec Interconnect v7 to Telefonica 02 Czech Republic, the largest provider of wireless voice and data services in the country.
Intec’s market leading billing solution is currently being installed on Telefonica 02’s network and will offer the operator enhanced billing support for its voice and next generation revenue streams, in addition to lower cost of ownership, faster time-to-market for new services and improved network visibility.
“Intec has worked extensively in the Czech Republic, and thanks to an innovative technology and strong support team they now dominate the country’s interconnect billing market,” said Karel Strynk, Billing Manager from Telefonica 02 Czech Republic. “As a result of this experience, Intec has learned first hand about the challenges mobile operators face here as well as what they are looking for in a billing solution – namely an application which can manage and control much more complex product scenarios. It was therefore a straightforward decision for us to select Intec as our billing vendor of choice and we look forward to using Intec Interconnect v7 to gain seamless settlement support for our various customer services such as voice, data, content and MMS messaging.”
Telefonica 02 Czech Republic operates in one of the most fiercely competitive markets in the world. According to a recent report from Informa Telecoms and Media, the Czech Republic has a mobile phone penetration rate of over 100% – making it difficult for operators to win new business without competitive phone prices and new services to attract customers and generate new revenue. Telefonica 02 has responded to this challenge by pushing ahead with the delivery of advanced solutions that reflect the preferences of the user, such as video streaming and music downloads. The company was also the first to offer customers wireless access to the Internet for a single flat rate. The success of this promotion, combined with the rising demand for broadband data, has lead the operator to move forward with a new high speed wireless solution that can manage the new services it wants to give its customers.
“Intec Interconnect v7 is at the heart of Telefonica 02’s new initiative for a faster, more seamless wireless network,” explains Iwona Golinska, Business Development Director, Central/Eastern Europe and Israel. “As the biggest operator in the country, Telefonica 02 has worked hard at gaining its market position through the delivery of advanced solutions that enhance the end-user experience. Interconnect v7 will help ensure that the operator maintains this lead by offering a way to not only deliver the latest wireless broadband services but also maximize the revenue possibilities of those services through effective intercarrier billing methods.”
Telefonica 02 Czech Republic is dealing with the types of billing issues that lead Intec to develop Interconnect v7, namely the emergence of content billing requirements and the launch of 3G and broadband services, which make it difficult for operators to support intercarrier billing with a standard platform. Intec’s solution not only provides the interconnect billing capabilities that operators have come to expect, but also a series of functionality that is crucial for any operator working in an advanced, 3G environment. They include increased productivity through greater automation and powerful rating capabilities to cater for next-generation services. The solution also offers a highly flexible discounting module which can support any type of billing and price plan and a comprehensive architecture to help Telefonica 02 attain a cost-effective, robust and scalable system.
“We are delighted to be working with Telefonica 02 Czech Republic,” said Gary Burch, VP EMEA at Intec. “Intec Interconnect v7 is the best intercarrier billing solution on the market, and no other vendor can offer the same capabilities that Intec can, especially for customers dealing with the complex challenges of a 3G environment. We are confident that Telefonica 02 Czech Republic will benefit highly from installing Intec Interconnect v7 and that the operator will enjoy greater revenue opportunities and better overall billing management for its existing and future services.”
About Telefonica O2 Czech Republic
Telefonica O2 Czech Republic, a.s., is the first integrated operator in the Czech Republic formed on 1 July 2006 by the merger of the leading fixed line operator, CESKÃ TELECOM, a.s., and the strongest mobile operator, Eurotel Praha, spol. s r.o., into a single telecommunications organization. The organization is now operating nearly eight million lines, both fixed and mobile, making it one of the world’s leading providers of fully converged services.
Telefonica O2 Czech Republic offers the most comprehensive portfolio of voice and data services in this country. A special attention is paid to the exploitation of the growth potential, in particular the data and Internet business. Telefonica O2 Czech Republic operates the largest fixed and mobile network including a unique 3rd generation network, CDMA (for data) and UMTS, enabling the transport of voice, data and video. Furthermore, Telefonica O2 Czech Republic offers the largest network of WiFi hotspots in the country.
About Telefonica O2 Europe
Telefonica O2 Europe comprises mobile network operators in the UK and Ireland, along with integrated fixed/mobile businesses in Germany and the Czech Republic – all of which use ‘O2’ as their consumer brand. The company recently won a mobile licence in Slovakia, where it plans to launch service in 2007. Telefonica O2 Europe also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile and Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses in the UK and Germany respectively as well as having 100% ownership of Be, a leading UK fixed broadband provider. In addition, the group includes the Isle of Man fixed/mobile operator, Manx Telecom, and O2 Airwave, which supplies secure digital communications to the emergency services and other public safety organisations.
Telefonica O2 Europe, part of the Telefonica group, is headquartered in Slough, UK, and has more than 38 million mobile and fixed customers.
About Telefonica
Telefonica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on fixed and mobile telephony, with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.
The company has a significant presence in 23 countries and a customer base of more than 203 million worldwide. Telefonica is a 100% listed company, with in excess of 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,921,130,397 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
About Intec
Intec supplies solutions to over 60 of the world’s top 100 telecoms carriers and is one of the world’s fastest growing major BSS/OSS (business and operations support systems) vendors. Intec’s 400 customers include AT&T, Cable & Wireless, The Carphone Warehouse (UK), China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Eircom (Ireland), France Telecom, Hutchison 3G, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Telefonica, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile, Vivo and Verizon. Intec works closely with its customers, many of whom have been with Intec since its inception, to provide the highest standards of performance, flexibility and robustness to help carriers service their customers effectively and profitably.