BSG Clearing Solutions, (BSG), a subsidiary of Billing Services Group Limited (AIM:BILL), the telecom industry’s clearing and settlement provider, has announced a multi-year renewal agreement with Turkcell to deliver international roaming data clearing services.
Under the agreement, BSG will manage data clearing for Turkcell’s network of 539 international roaming partners covering 193 countries. As of December 2006, Turkcell had a subscriber base of 31.8 million of pre and post paid customers. With the growing tourism industry in Turkey, international roaming traffic should increase.
Turkcell chose BSG because of the consistently high quality of service received and the efficient and responsive actions of the client focus team based in Germany. Besides the provision of marketing Value Added Services, BSG provides flexible and efficient support for Turkcell’s market initiatives and new service launches and supported Turkcell’s leading position in the market.
Oyku Torun, Head of International Roaming for Turkcell commented, “Continuing our contract with BSG was the natural choice for us. We get everything we need in terms of support and service quality. Our clearing operation runs smoothly with little intervention from us. We are confident BSG will continue to run a seamless, efficient, and accurate service.â€
Atul Devani, Chief Executive Officer for BSG Wireless said, “Turkcell is a long standing customer of ours and we are excited at the prospect of continuing business with them. We will continue to support their strategic business goals and look forward to developing the relationship further into the future to mutually benefit our respective organizations.â€
About BSG Clearing Solutions
BSG Clearing Solutions is a leading global provider of clearing and settlement, payment services, and financial risk management solutions for communications service providers. The company processes over 20 billion transactions annually for 750 of the world’s largest communications companies throughout North America, Europe and Asia. With a ubiquitous, scalable platform and an extensive portfolio of clearinghouse services for fixed-line, wireless, Wi-Fi, and broadband networks, BSG monetizes network transactions by facilitating the financial exchange of its customers’ services. BSG meets the needs of today’s complex network interconnections and anticipates the requirements of converging technologies, allowing for rapid and reliable deployment. BSG Clearing Solutions is an operating subsidiary of Billing Services Group Limited, which is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) under the ticker symbol BILL. For more information, visit www.bsgclearing.com.
About Turkcell
Turkcell is the leading GSM operator in Turkey with 31.8 million post-paid and pre-paid customers as of December 31, 2006 operating in a three player market with a market share of approximately 60% as of September 30, 2006 (Source: Telecommunication Authority). In addition to the high-quality wireless telephone services, Turkcell currently offers General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) countrywide and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) in dense areas, which provide for both improved data and voice services. Turkcell provides roaming with 539 operators in 193 countries as of January 5, 2007. Serving a large subscriber base in Turkey with its high-quality wireless telephone network, Turkcell reported US$4,528 million net revenues as of December 31, 2005 and US$3,497million net revenue for the nine months as of September 30, 2006 as per IFRS financial statements. Turkcell has interests in international GSM operations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Northern Cyprus and Ukraine. Turkcell has been listed on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) and the ISE (Istanbul Stock Exchange) since July 2000 and is the only NYSE listed company in Turkey. 51.00% of Turkcell’s share capital is held by Turkcell Holding, 7.46% by Cukurova Group, 13.07% by Sonera Holding, 5.07% by M.V. Group and 0.01% by others while the remaining 23.39% is free float.