Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 26th August, 2010 – Tonga’s new mobile-broadband-enabled GSM network, delivered and installed by Altobridge, the leading supplier of remote communications solutions, is launched today by Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC), the country’s leading provider of complete end-to-end telephony and Internet services, in the presence of  the Prime Minister of Tonga, the Honourable Dr. Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele.

Today’s commercial launch, which takes place in the capital, Nuku’alofa, follows the May award to Altobridge by TCC of a contract for the replacement of the previous macro-GSM network, and is aimed at ensuring the continuous provision of service across the three main island groups: Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai.  Roll-out has been completed well within the six-month timeframe allocated to the deployment’s first phase.

An integral part of today’s milestone event is the demonstration of mobile broadband based on Altobridge’s EDGE-capable network. Reliable, high-speed data access and coverage to even the remotest parts of the island nation will be demonstrated.

TCC Managing Director, Timote Katoanga, said, “Today marks a new beginning in the provision of advanced mobile communications services throughout our nation and we are delighted that Altobridge’s efforts have enabled us to go live earlier than expected. We are also most privileged to have the support of the Tongan Government on this important day and are delighted that the Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele, has taken the time to be with us to celebrate the occasion and inaugurate the new network.”

Also in attendance at the event, Altobridge CEO, Mike Fitzgerald, said, “We are delighted to have been selected by TCC to deploy its new mobile-broadband-enabled network and that, combined with our remote communications expertise, this network will help maintain and deliver advanced communications to connect Tonga’s population, including the thousands of people who remain unconnected.”

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 27th May, 2010 – Altobridge, the leading supplier of remote communications solutions, has established a presence in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, to meet the increasing demand for telecommunications in the region.  Building on its existing Asia Pacific team in Malaysia, the Jakarta representation aims to address both the communications needs of Indonesia’s rural population and the many remote enterprises operating across the country. Altobridge Country Manager, Mark O’Sullivan, will head up the Indonesian team to provide comprehensive sales and service support to mobile network operators (MNOs) in the region.

Indonesia has an overall population of over 242 million distributed over 17,500 islands. Of these, approximately 72 million are adults without any basic communication services, most of whom live in rural villages. It is these potential customers in communities with populations as low as 100 who can now be served profitably by MNOs using the Altobridge Remote Community solution. This solution uses intelligent patented technology which reduces transmission and power requirements, making it the most cost-effective and power-efficient system available on the market for remote communities. Apart from low capital and operational costs, an important  differentiating factor of this solution is its compact size and portability, enabling set up of a site within a couple of days in the most geographically challenging areas. Altobridge also offers MNOs a Fully Managed Service, removing the burden of initial capital and resource costs and providing 24/7 support, maintenance and network management services.

This latest strengthening of its presence in the Asia-Pacific region follows the announcement, earlier this month, of Altobridge’s three-year contract win with Tonga Communications Corporation, underpinning the company’s understanding and capabilities in dealing with large numbers of remote island communities.

Mike Fitzgerald, CEO of Altobridge, said, “There are thousands of small enterprises and market villages across Indonesia which could immediately benefit from the impact of mobile communications.

“We have the ideal combination of technology and experience across the region, particularly in South East Asia and the South Pacific. The Altobridge Remote Community solution generates incremental revenue for the mobile operator from these remote subscriber groups, and Indonesia is a very important growth market for such mobile communications.”

At a reception on Wednesday 26th May in the Shangri-La hotel, Jakarta,  the Irish Ambassador to Indonesia, His Excellency Dr. Richard A. O’Brien launched the Ireland-Indonesia Business Network. Earlier today at a Business Media Lunch the Ambassador briefed the Indonesian press on developments in the Ireland – Indonesia bilateral relationship and  announced Altobridge’s new Indonesian presence. The lunch was also attended by the Altobridge Country Manager for Indonesia, Mark O’Sullivan.

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 11th May, 2010 – Altobridge, the leading supplier of remote communications solutions, has signed a frame agreement for wireless network solutions and managed services with Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC), Tonga’s leading provider of complete end-to-end telephony and Internet services.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Altobridge will provide TCC with its industry-leading wireless network solution to improve the island nation’s macro-GSM coverage, together with the Altobridge award-winning remote communications solution that will help connect Tonga’s unconnected. The first phase, expected to be complete within six months, will see the upgrade and/or replacement of the existing macro-GSM network providing service across the three main island groups of Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai.

TCC Managing Director, Timote Katoanga, said, “Altobridge presented a compelling network solution addressing the specific requirements of our customer base. Providing reliable, high-speed data access and coverage, coupled with cost-effective connectivity, particularly for remote parts of our network throughout our island nation, is critical to our strategy.”

Altobridge CEO, Mike Fitzgerald, said, “Mobile network operators are increasingly demanding network solutions with lower operating costs. Lower transmission and power consumption costs, combined with innovative means of providing low-cost wireless broadband connectivity, have become a prerequisite. Altobridge is looking forward to a long-term working relationship with TCC.”

CTIA Las Vegas, 23 March 2010 – Altobridge, the leading provider of wireless solutions for remote enterprises and communities, is exhibiting at CTIA in Las Vegas, (BOOTH #1727, Hall C3), where it will be highlighting the company’s industry leading core technologies and their use in remote community, secure government network and emergency service applications around the world.

Customers are currently using Altobridge Remote Community Solutions in Asia, the Pacific, Africa and Latin America. Government agencies across North America are using the company’s solutions widely for secure network applications.

CEO of Altobridge, Mike Fitzgerald, said, “As a result of our recent acquisition we have extended our Intellectual Property portfolio and client base, including activities in new markets. We have also significantly increased the number of our government customers. Our presence at CTIA illustrates the strengths and capabilities of our newly combined product portfolio and the broader expertise of our enhanced team across all disciplines, which the acquisition has helped to achieve.”

On display will be the company’s Compact All-IP GSM Network Solution, which forms a core element of Altobridge solutions already supplied to the military, government and emergency services. Due to the unique scalability of the company’s core technologies the solution has also become the system of choice for comprehensive developing and testing purposes by leading wireless industry software and systems developers and vendors. This complete IP GSM ‘Network in a Box’ includes a pico IP GSM Base Station (BTS), a soft Base Station Controller (BSC) and a fully featured soft Mobile Switching Centre (MSC).

The Compact All-IP GSM Network Solution provides the GSM vendor community with a cost-effective way of testing new hardware and software in a true cellular network environment.  Altobridge is the only company able to provide all the elements of a network in such a compact configuration.

The event will be attended by more than 9,300 satellite professionals from 70 countries with more than 300 companies exhibiting their products and services. SATELLITE 2010 will take place at the Gaylord National Convention Center, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, Maryland, USA.

Moderated by President of Northern Skies Research, Chris Baugh,  panel members include: Steven Blumenthal, Head of Ground Networks, O3B Networks USA, LLC; Doron Elinav, VP, Marketing, Gilat Network Systems; and Jay Yass, Vice President, Network Services, Intelsat. The general panel discussion will follow individual presentations by each participant.

The Altobridge presentation by Richard Lord will address wireless backhaul and integration via satellite by looking at such issues as:

•    Regulatory issues from the service providers’ perspective,
•    How new business models and technology breakthroughs address previously prohibitive OPEX and CAPEX issues,
•    Why HSPA looks like the most important broadband technology for use in emerging market cellular/satellite remote site deployments,
•    The importance of decentralising core network functions to remote sites to enable IP optimisation techniques.
Regional issues across Asia, Africa and South America, such as licence obligations, VSAT footprint and the need for mesh or multi-star solutions will also be addressed by the Altobridge presentation and the wider panel discussion. This session will take place between 1015am and 1130am on Wednesday 17 March.

According to the organisers: ‘The conference programming will continue with sessions on the military … mobile and commercial sectors … developing creative financial solutions for the challenging marketplace. More than 300 satellite communications experts will lead sessions on topics including comms-on-the-move… hybrid solutions, “greening” satellite communications, the increasing importance of religious broadcasters to the satellite sector, accelerating demand for aeronautical and maritime satellite services…’

SATELLITE 2010 is designed to look to the future of satellite-enabled communications and the new technologies and markets that will open up as a result – an event design in total synergy with the breakthrough technologies and new market wins from Altobridge.

The Deloitte Best Managed Awards Programme recognises indigenous Irish companies, which operate at the highest levels of business performance. The independent judging panel was chaired by Denis Brosnan, former MD of the Kerry Group, and included Pat Cullen, Managing Partner, Deloitte Ireland, David Latto, Head of Corporate Banking at Bank of Scotland (Ireland), Tom McCarthy, CEO, Irish Management Institute, and Richard Curran, Deputy Editor, The Sunday Business Post.

The judges reviewed a broad range of standard business criteria including strategy, capability, financials and growth potential. They also took the current challenging economic climate into consideration and assessed companies across a range of criteria including their performance in relation to their peers and the trends across their respective industries. Only then was true management success determined.

CEO of Altobridge, Mike Fitzgerald, said, “We are delighted to have been recognised in this way by Deloitte for the second year in a row. The award comes after an exciting year for Altobridge during which we have completed a major strategic acquisition, doubling the size of the company and increasing our capabilities, product portfolio and customer base across the globe.

“Weathering the turbulent economic times has been a challenge for everyone in business, but with a dedicated professional team Altobridge continues to move from strength to strength and we’re looking forward to several business successes in the coming months.”

A gala awards ceremony was held in Dublin on 5 March to celebrate the award and was attended by the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Mr Brian Cowen T.D.

Deloitte states: “The Deloitte ‘Best Managed’ designation is a symbol of Irish corporate success – companies focused on their core vision, creating stakeholder value, excelling in all areas of their business and celebrating the contributions of the entire organisation.  The initiative is modelled on Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies programme, which has been successfully run by Deloitte in Canada since 1993.”  The programme is run in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland).

-Ends-

ADC strengthens focus on its in-building and microcellular wireless market leadership

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. USA and TRALEE, IRELAND – December 31, 2009 — ADC (NASDAQ: ADCT; www.adc.com), a leading global supplier of network infrastructure solutions, and Altobridge, a leading provider of cost-effective solutions for mobile network operators, announced today that Altobridge has acquired ADC’s portfolio of GSM base station and switching products. Terms of the transaction, which closes today, were not disclosed.

The ADC GSM base station and switching product portfolio supports demanding applications such as remote wireless and small national networks, as well as government, emergency and private network communications. These products complement Altobridge’s innovations in several markets, including its Fully Managed Service business for meeting the growing communication needs of emerging markets, and solutions for optimising voice and data transmission for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

As part of the transaction, Altobridge is acquiring ADC’s existing GSM base station and switching product customer base and retaining all of the employees necessary to support the business. In addition, Altobridge is acquiring certain assets and intellectual property related to the product portfolio.

“The sale of our GSM base station and switching technology to Altobridge is a positive development for our respective customers, employees, shareowners and companies,” said Dick Parran, president of Network Solutions business unit for ADC. “ADC maintains a strong commitment to expanding our leadership position in providing in-building and outdoor wireless solutions that are increasingly essential in meeting the coverage and capacity challenges of 3G and 4G networks, while Altobridge is well positioned to build on the strong foundation established by both companies in the remote and specialty network market.”

“Mobile Network Operators face a major challenge to deliver accelerating voice and data traffic for declining returns. Altobridge will continue to innovate and deliver further solutions that drive down these underlying communication costs,” said Mike Fitzgerald, CEO of Altobridge. “This acquisition will enable Altobridge to broaden our Intellectual Property portfolio and grow our Fully Managed Service business as we work hand in hand with MNOs striving to connect their subscriber groups at lower costs.”

Both companies are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for existing customers. Contracts and warranties with existing and pending customers will continue to be supported by Altobridge.

Altobridge, nominated finalist in GSMA Mobile Innovation Grand Prix – APAC Tournament, to present its Remote Community solution in the Innovation Zone

Hong Kong, 17 November 2009 – Leading provider of cost-effective wireless solutions, Altobridge, has been nominated as one of only five finalists in the GSMA’s Mobile Innovation Grand Prix – APAC Tournament. The nomination is a result of the pioneering and breakthrough technology behind the company’s Remote Community solution, and its successful, profitable, commercial operations with mobile network operators (MNOs) in Asia and ongoing deployments in Africa and Latin America.

As a finalist, Altobridge will present its Remote Community solution at the Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong, 18-19 November. The presentation, entitled: “GSM Expansion into Small Remote Communities – A Technical, Commercial and Operational Solution”, will be delivered by Altobridge’s General Manager for Asia, Peter Tuomey, on Wednesday 18 November in the Innovation Zone (S426 – 1st Floor) between 1415-1515hrs.

The paper will look at the Remote Community solution technologies, how they overcome the barriers which have faced MNOs until now, such as the high costs of transmission bandwidth, and will present the reasons why small remote communities become viable market segments for MNOs using this solution. Monthly ARPUs achievable will be discussed using actual case study examples from the company’s deployments with Malaysian MNO, Maxis, which has been actively supplying profitable cellular services to small, remote user groups of less than 1,000 people using Altobridge technologies since 2007.

Altobridge’s Peter Tuomey, said, “The ongoing commercial success of our solution with Maxis is proof of the generous ARPUs that can be achieved within small remote user groups and the viable business model it presents to MNOs.

“Our Remote Community solution is, without doubt, set to change the lives of people living and working in small communities in the remotest parts of the world and we are delighted it has been recognised in this prestigious, objective, industry awards process.”

The five finalist presentations will be reviewed by a judging panel comprised of senior executives from mobile operators and venture capital firms, including representatives from: Swisscom Ventures, Telecom Italia, Intel Capital, Orange, and Belgacom ICS. Two overall winners will win a trip to compete for the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix title, part of the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2010.

Click here to view / download original PDF

Latest nomination from the mobile sector’s leading industry body takes Altobridge ‘Year of Accolades’ to 4 wins and 4 finalist places

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 30 October 2009 – Leading provider of cost-effective wireless solutions, Altobridge, has been nominated as a finalist by the GSMA in its Mobile Innovation Grand Prix – APAC Tournament. As with other recent awards and high-profile nominations, this selection has again been based on the pioneering and breakthrough technology behind the company’s Remote Community Solution. In addition, the company has demonstrated the solution’s successful, profitable, commercial operations with mobile network operators (MNOs) in Asia and ongoing deployments in Africa and Latin America.

The commercial deployments with MNOs such as Maxis in Malaysia, and MobiCom in Mongolia, have helped place Altobridge in this latest, potentially award-winning position. Since 2007 these MNOs have been rolling out the Remote Community Solution and actively supplying profitable cellular services to small, remote user groups of less than 1,000 people,. Prior to this, no such profitable delivery of mobile telephony services had been possible. The breakthrough technologies are set to make a powerful contribution to MNOs in other emerging markets where several trials are currently underway.

Since the beginning of the year Altobridge has achieved the following in the industry and business award fields:

• Finalist alongside the world’s largest mobile vendors at the GSMA Mobile World Congress
• Winner, MobiCom Best Technology Award
• Winner, Deloitte Best Managed Companies
• Winner, ICT Innovation Awards
• Finalist, IET Innovation Awards (winner TBA)
• Finalist, AfricaCom Awards (winner TBA)
• Winner, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards – CEO Mike Fitzgerald
• Finalist, GSMA Mobile Innovation Grand Prix – APAC Tournament

As one of only five finalists in the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix, Altobridge will present its Remote Community Solution at the Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong, 18-19 November. The primary goal of this Tournament is to showcase promising entrepreneurs from small and medium-sized companies bringing innovative new products and services to market.

The five finalist presentations will be reviewed by a judging panel comprised of senior executives from mobile operators and venture capital firms. Two overall winners will win a trip to compete for the Mobile Innovation Grand Prix title, part of the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2010.

Ernst & Young awards Fitzgerald for creating an innovative global mobile solutions business

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 23 October 2009 – Mike Fitzgerald, CEO of mobile communications company, Altobridge, was named last night as Ernst & Young’s Irish Entrepreneur of the Year 2009, in the Emerging category.

The award was presented by Irish President, Mary McAleese, who paid tribute to all the finalists’ “courage, resilience and inventiveness” and noted that they had been subjected to “the most rigorous, forensic, expert scrutiny” as part of the Award process. Accepting the award, Mike Fitzgerald was quick to emphasize the contribution of his Altobridge colleagues to his win.

“When I started out 21 years ago as a software engineer, the team leader asked me if I understood the concept of teamwork. It wasn’t until Altobridge that I fully discovered its true meaning and it is a privilege to accept this award on behalf of everyone in the company.

Fitzgerald went on to give a special mention to Altobridge board member, Declan Hogan. “In particular I want to thank Declan Hogan, my mentor, who took me under his wing 10 years ago. He has given me confidence and has always been a great inspiration.”

The judges singled out Mike’s vision and leadership in driving the success of Altobridge in emerging markets including Mongolia, Malaysia and Latin America. Fitzgerald added, “Altobridge has created the world’s most cost-effective solution for providing remote communities with access to mobile communications. This award is a wonderful recognition of the quality of our products and technology, the focus and commitment of our worldwide team and the long-term value of our business.”

For further information on the awards visit: www.eoy.ie.

IET and AfricaCom shortlistings recognise global and regional importance of the Altobridge Remote Community Solution

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 13 October 2009 – Leading provider of cost-effective wireless solutions, Altobridge, has been shortlisted for two prestigious industry awards in recognition of its Remote Community Solution. This technology makes a powerful contribution to emerging market mobile network operators, enabling them to roll out profitable cellular services to small, remote user groups.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), has selected Altobridge as a finalist from 400 entries for its: Remote Community Solution – Delivering Cost-Effective Hybrid Satcom/Cellular Communications Solutions to Isolated Communities, in the Telecommunications category of the IET Innovation Awards 2009. The winners will be announced on 25 November at a gala dinner to be held in London at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

The IET is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community and has more than 150,000 members in 127 countries. It provides a global knowledge network to facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote the positive role of science, engineering and technology in the world.

In the second shortlisting, the Altobridge Remote Community Solution has again been selected as a finalist in the ‘Best Cost Efficiency Solution for Africa’ category of the 2009 AfricaCom Awards. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony held in Cape Town on 11 November where 500 industry leaders will attend to celebrate the biggest achievers in the African telecoms industry. The Awards, in their second year, are organised by Informa Telecoms & Media as part of its Com World Series. It received a record 88 entries this year, of which 13 were in the Best Cost-Efficiency Solution category. This is the 12th AfricaCom Conference with over 3,500 telecoms participants.

14th July, 2009: Blue Ocean Wireless (”BOW”), a company delivering GSM communication capability for the merchant maritime sector, today announces that it has successfully completed full FleetBroadband (‘FBB’) testing and the service is now fully operational and commercially available to existing and potential BOW customers.

BOW also announces that Smart Communications, Inc. (‘SMART’), a wholly owned mobile subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (‘PLDT’), NTT DOCOMO, Inc. (“DOCOMO”), and Altobridge Limited will invest a further US$7.5million into BOW to accelerate the rapid introduction of FleetBroadband and next generation maritime communication services.

BOW has established itself as the leading provider of GSM services to the merchant maritime sector. With a customer base and order book of over 650 vessels, BOW has demonstrated rapid growth since it was founded two years ago. The objective now is to further accelerate this growth and facilitate the introduction of next generation maritime communication services.

Expanding Range of Maritime Services

Blue Ocean Wireless provides, for the first time, FleetBroadband and mobile GSM connectivity at sea, where no other network exists. This allows officers and crew to make and receive voice calls, send and receive text messages and emails and access the internet. FleetBroadband also supports the latest technologies for both conducting business remotely and effective fleet operation, including the ability to access corporate networks and FTP facilities from anywhere around the globe. The BOW FBB service is supported by both Inmarsat’s FB250 & FB500 and the VSAT satellite terminal.

Fleet Broadband

FleetBroadband is the first maritime communications service to provide cost-effective global broadband data and voice, simultaneously, through a compact antenna. FBB provides unprecedented connectivity between vessels and the shore, regardless of your global position or conditions at sea. FleetBroadband is cost-effective, fast, reliable and an easy-to-use “alwaysavailable” solution for email, internet, corporate networks and voice services. FleetBroadband utilises Inmarsat’s I-4 satellite constellation enabling global coverage.

Blue Ocean Wireless provides the opportunity to expand the range of value-added services, beyond the basic FleetBroadband services which exist. These value-added services provide users with cost and traffic control, firewall management, data optimisation, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range.

Investment in Blue Ocean Wireless.

The proceeds from this investment further strengthen BOW’s balance sheet and underpin its strategy to aggressively enhance and grow its service offering within the merchant maritime sector.

Paul Wallace, Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are pleased to announce this further investment by SMART, NTT DOCOMO and Altobridge. With the introduction of Fleet Broadband, we have significantly enhanced our range of available services and, we look forward to continuing to enhance our service offering and growing our global fleet of customers”

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, June 2009 – Mike Fitzgerald, CEO of leading mobile communications company, Altobridge, has been named as one of 24 Irish finalists in the ‘Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009’ programme.

The finalists were selected from 110 entries from across Ireland and will join an international field of more than 10,000 entrepreneurs from over 50 countries. The Irish part of the scheme is seen as one of the strongest components of this global programme.

Fitzgerald was chosen for his leadership in driving the ongoing successes of Altobridge in delivering much-needed communications to remote communities in emerging markets using its Remote Community Solution. This combines two Altobridge breakthrough technologies and is the world’s most operationally efficient and cost-effective communications solution for remote user groups.

The finalists were selected from companies in each of three categories: International, Industry and Emerging and, with support from Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland, will take part in a trade mission to Brazil where they will meet key Brazilian business leaders, entrepreneurs, mobile industry experts, government and public authorities.

Commenting on his nomination, Fitzgerald said, “By the late 90s it became clear that the communications requirements of remote user communities were not being properly addressed. Following an extensive global feasibility study, Altobridge was established as an indigenous Irish R&D company, with the goal of identifying the barriers to cost-effective remote communication and overcoming them. It is an honour to be included as a finalist in E&Y’s progamme,” Fitzgerald said.

The winner, to be announced in October, will compete for the worldwide title next year.

For further information on the awards visit: www.eoy.ie.

Dublin, Ireland, 22 May, 2009 – Leading provider of cost-cutting wireless communications solutions, Altobridge, has won the prestigious World Class Innovation Award for its Remote Community Solution, at this year’s ICT Excellence Awards.

This year, more than 120 of Ireland’s leading ICT companies were entered into the 19 categories of the ICT Awards, with more than 15 in the Altobridge OKI-sponsored World Class Innovation category, alone. The categories recognise the excellence in information and communications technology across Ireland. (www.ictexcellenceawards.ie).

The company’s winning Remote Community Solution combines mobile and satellite technologies enabling mobile operators in emerging markets to deliver cost-effective mobile communications to isolated, rural communities where, previously, the provision of any form of telecommunications infrastructure has been unviable from the operator’s business perspective, and often impractical or impossible from a terrain perspective.

Billy Huggard, Operations Director for Mediateam, said, “The entrants for these awards comprise the cream of the Irish ICT industry, and their products, services and latest innovations are at work worldwide within their respective global markets. It’s a truly distinguished field.”

Altobridge Marketing & Communications Director, Linda Hickey, received the award on behalf of the company at last night’s Gala Presentation Dinner at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, which was attended by more than 350 guests and hosted by Irish celebrity, Marty Whelan. The awards are organised by publishing house and event organiser, Mediateam, and were sponsored by global PC giant, Lenovo.

Linda Hickey, said, “Our Remote Community Solution changes lives and societies in emerging markets. Without our technology mobile operators in the developing world simply cannot afford to bring mobile communications services into remote regions. The cost of infrastructure roll-out, like towers and traditional base stations, is simply prohibitive and delivering services using satellite as the means of linking to the outside world has cost far too much.

“Our solution removes all the barriers operators have faced until now and is already deployed and making a huge difference to the lives and businesses of thousands of people in Asia. We are delighted to have had these achievements and our Remote Community Solution recognized in this way.”

The ICT Excellence Awards programme is now in its 9th year and is said to be Ireland’s longest-running and most prestigious awards event for the ICT industry.

(l-r): OKI’s Sales and Marketing Director Martin Deignan presenting the Award to Linda Hickey, Marketing & Communications Director, Altobridge

Mumbai, India, 12 May, 2009 – Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) across India and South Asia are reaching out across their respective regions to deliver wireless services where, until now, communities have been without even the most basic forms of telephony. The technology now exists to enable them to do so, profitably – and rapidly.

At India & South Asia Com in Mumbai, leading provider of wireless solutions for cutting the cost of communications, Altobridge, will be delivering its exclusive paper: “Cost-Effective Wireless Communications in Remote Parts of India & South Asia”, in which company Sales Director, Colm Jones, will discuss how MNOs can solve the technical, operational and business issues of delivering mobile services to their most remote, low-population user groups by using the world’s most cost-effective remote mobile communications solution – ‘The Altobridge Remote Community Solution’.

In India, less than 30% of the 1.16 billion population live in urban areas, leaving a rural population of immense proportions. Whilst less than 38 million fixed phone lines are in use across the whole country, the growth in mobile phone penetration since deregulation has been phenomenal, with 362 million mobile phones now in use with an ARPU of US$5. Combined fixed and mobile phone density, however, remains low at around 35 phones per 100 people.

Many of those without phones are spread amongst the 10,000 small, remote, rural communities in need of communications and whose only hope, technologically, is on mobile solutions combined with satellite backhaul. However, to ensure an effective ROI on any deployment, MNOs need to adopt significant changes in their core network.

This is where Indian and Asian MNOs can benefit from the technologies Altobridge has developed, which will enable them to reach out immediately with the most cost-effective solution to deliver mobile communications to these hundreds of millions of people.

The Remote Community Solution from Altobridge combines its patented Split Architecture with a unique Local Connectivity function. The Split Architecture creates an on-demand use of expensive satellite bandwidth, which restricts usage to times when only revenue-generating traffic is occurring. The Local Connectivity element switches ‘local calls’ locally at the community base station, eliminating unnecessary backhaul onto the core network transmission links. This, in turn, improves call quality by removing double satellite hops.

Mike Fitzgerald, Altobridge CEO, said, “A further compelling aspect of our solution is our Operational Model, which bundles our unique wireless offering with new and installed Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and benefits from the existing local teams of installation and support professionals already on the ground and serving remote communities.

“The Indian National Satellite System, which comprises six satellites, supports 33,000 VSATs across the country and is a major asset to the whole challenge of delivering services to India’s remote regions. These installed VSATs can combine perfectly with the Altobridge solution to deliver cost-effective services.

“VSATs are very low cost and today exist in their tens of thousands, deployed around the world. They are, however, very much under-utilised in small remote communities throughout developing and emerging countries like India. MNOs have already identified this installed base as the ideal, cost-effective means of rapidly extending their GSM services to remote communities, and ‘bundling’ GSM and VSAT at remote locations enables ‘Sathaul’ – base stations backhauled over satellite – to provide operators with an effective and practical means of delivering GSM services where they would otherwise not be viable,” Fitzgerald concluded.

Company business model offers resilience in the current international telecoms market

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 4 March 2009 – Leading Irish mobile communications company, Altobridge, has been named as one of Ireland’s ‘Best Managed’ companies in the Deloitte ‘Best Managed Companies Awards’. In total, 25 companies were recognised at an awards gala dinner in the Ritz Carlton, Powerscourt, which was attended by President McAleese, on 27 February 2009.

The Deloitte Best Managed Awards programme, in association with Bank of Scotland (Ireland), recognises indigenous Irish companies across the island of Ireland, which are operating at the highest levels of business performance. It is the only awards programme that considers companies from every perspective, including: strategy, capability, commitment, financials and growth potential across all key functions of the business.

Commenting on the award, Mike Fitzgerald, CEO, Altobridge, said, “Altobridge’s management team has demonstrated tremendous competence in successfully shifting from a direct to an indirect business model. We are already seeing that this model offers not only the ability to scale, but also a greater resilience from a cost perspective. As we cross the challenging waters of the international telecommunication market in 2009 this inaugural award offers great support for our efforts.”

Pat Cullen, Managing Partner, Deloitte, commented, “The tremendous success of the winning companies is an inspiration for all Irish companies. We are delighted to be able to recognise these strong business leaders of the future, who embody the immense talent across the island of Ireland.”

Paul Cunningham, Head of Banking, Bank of Scotland (Ireland) and judging panel member, said, “The 25 best managed companies have shown great focus and dedication in what has been a difficult year for us all. 2009 will be just as tough for business, but the strong management capability, which these companies have already demonstrated, means they will be well positioned to trade through this challenging cycle. Bank of Scotland (Ireland) is very proud to be a part of recognising and supporting their achievements and we hope these companies will continue to flourish and succeed in the years ahead.”

The theme of this year’s awards ceremony was ‘A Tribute to Talent’. Given the changing business environment over the past year and the ensuing challenges that the winners have had to overcome through sound management practices, these companies further reinforce the strength of the talent that is present in Ireland.

The Deloitte Best Managed Companies Awards programme is open to companies from all 32 counties on the island of Ireland. It is the only awards programme that considers a business’ performance from every perspective. Details of entry for the 2009 Awards will be issued in the coming weeks on www.deloittebestmanaged.ie.

The ‘Best Managed’ designation is an important marketing tool for the winning companies – but, perhaps most importantly, the awards provide a reason to celebrate the efforts of the entire company.

(l-r): Paul Cunningham, Head of Banking, Bank of Scotland (Ireland); Pat Cullen, Managing Partner, Deloitte; Dick Spring, Chairperson, Altobridge; President of Ireland Mary McAleese and her husband, Dr. Martin McAleese.

“Across the globe, more than a billion people live without access to basic telephony. Mobile telephony is the best option for extending telephony to the world’s population but according to ABI Research, mobile telephone subscriptions have only reached 60% of the world’s population today and by 2013 will grow to 77%.”

- Dan Shey, Practice Director, Mobile Services, ABI Research

Setting the scene

A major challenge for mobile operators and vendors has been making financially viable GSM services available for small remote communities of less than 1,000 people. The key barriers to entry have been the capital costs associated with the towers required and the provision of backhaul over satellite to reach these remote areas.

As a result, millions of remote communities remain cut off from the unparalleled economies of scale that GSM has achieved. In Africa alone, 2008 estimates by the GSMA state that whilst 67% of the population (500 million in sub-Saharan Africa), live in areas with mobile coverage, only around 150 million of them are mobile phone users.

In addition, thousands of remote enterprise sites exist worldwide for which, like village scenarios, cost-effective wireless solutions have so far been unavailable. Enterprise groups, such as medical stations, oil rigs, mines, or logging camps, all require a cost-effective means of communicating across their own campuses and with the outside world.

Despite the huge growth in mobile penetration figures around the world, these rural communities and enterprises have been deprived of mobile communications, with high barriers of entry and estimated low potential return being factors that have slowed the roll-out of GSM to these user groups.

Transmission backhaul from these rural areas also remains a major problem, where limited access to E1/T1 transmission means the cost is prohibitively high, particularly in emerging markets. Microwave transmission is limited in range with costly towers requiring high capital investment, power supply and security measures. And although A-bis over satellite (coupled with compression functionality) solutions are becoming increasingly popular, these can be too expensive for local calls, which can also suffer from reduced quality, particularly for low density sites.

Enter VSAT / GSM Bundling

VSAT is the one backhaul service that can be deployed anywhere, even in the remotest areas in the world, providing an ideal means of communication eliminating geographical barriers in areas where terrestrial coverage is unavailable. VSAT can be quickly deployed to geographically dispersed sites compared to traditional communications infrastructure and generally offer service reliability and availability that is equal to, or better than, terrestrial services.

Altobridge’s Remote Community Solution is designed and optimised with VSAT backhaul in mind and combines the company’s Split-BSC Architecture and Local Connectivity technology, making it the world’s most cost-effective solution for remote communities.

The Split-BSC Architecture provides a cost-effective GSM solution with satellite backhaul, enabling either long-term deployments or short-term installations for any enterprise, or remote village applications. In all scenarios, satellite bandwidth is ‘on-demand’, therefore, only used when revenue-generating traffic occurs making it a viable option for both the user and mobile operator, alike.

Altobridge’s Local Connectivity technology then provides local switching at the base station, transparent to the installed infrastructure and fully compatible with current suppliers’ equipment. Local mobile-to-mobile calls will be switched at the remote base station rather than backhauling traffic to the MSC and then back to site again. This solution has a positive impact on OPEX and local call quality, and removes the integration issues typically associated with such installations.

Mike Fitzgerald, Altobridge CEO, said, “Through the innovative use of effective GSM technologies, such as our Remote Community Solution bundled with VSAT, we are certain that the ‘Digital Divide’ can be bridged once and for all. VSATs have already established themselves throughout many remote regions of the world, where millions of people are without a proper means of communicating within their own communities and with the outside world. We are very excited to have successfully broken into this arena.”

Barcelona, 16 February, 2009 – Trials of Altobridge’s ‘Local Connectivity’ solution have successfully passed their 6-month stage with a major group operator in Northern Africa. Altobridge, the leading provider of wireless solutions for cutting the cost of communications, is helping the operator meet the prohibitive cost challenge of satellite backhaul in remote communities using its patented technology.

The trials, involving several thousand users, began with a Technical Evaluation Phase 1 in the summer of 2008, which has now been successfully completed. The deployment of the Local Connectivity solution on the site went smoothly. No technical issues were identified. The biggest impact was on the operator’s operating expenses for satellite backhaul, where savings of around 30% were logged during peak traffic times. With satellite bandwidth costs of up to US$10,000 per month per 2mbit/s link, this equates to savings of thousands of dollars per month, per site, for the operator.

Subscribers also experienced a positive impact – suddenly, the delay, typically associated with local calls on sites with satellite backhaul, was gone. Handovers between cells, as local callers moved from cell to cell within the town, were performed with the utmost precision, just as if calls were being switched by the central switching equipment.

As of Q1 2009, the operator has now started the ‘Commercial Traffic Phase 2’, which is currently ongoing. The trial is aimed at showing the operator that it can take advantage of Altobridge’s breakthrough in local switching functionality, delivering improved services profitably, without making changes to its network structure or charging systems.

Janne Hazell, Altobridge VP of Wireless Solutions, explained, “Mobile operators throughout Africa could benefit from the use of Local Connectivity technology in deploying services to both small remote communities and more populated user groups, where such technology offers a chance to keep local calls local and thus significantly cut the cost of providing services, anywhere.”

The operator is now planning to upgrade the mobile network in order to roll out Altobridge’s Local Connectivity across multiple sites. In addition to large-scale deployment, the operator will be able to group several sites in Local Connectivity clusters. This will enable it to apply Local Connectivity to communities of interest spanning multiple sites, increasing the local call ratio, and thereby further reducing the average backhaul cost per call.

Commenting further on the trial, Janne Hazell said, “The trial shows that together with an efficient Abis Interface, Altobridge’s Local Connectivity solution revolutionizes the business case for satellite backhaul. By deploying this Local Connectivity solution, operators across Africa, Asia, Latin America and all markets with remote populations, will not only enjoy lower operating expenses on existing sites, but will also be able to provide cellular services to remote communities not previously served due to a lack of financial incentives. With an industry increasingly focused on operating expenses, Altobridge is confident that all mobile operators the world over will introduce our Local Connectivity capability throughout their networks, and not just for those sites backhauled by satellite.”

Remote GSM technology enables service delivery to isolated small user groups.

Barcelona, 16 February, 2009 – Leading Mongolian mobile network operator, MobiCom Corporation, has received an award as ‘Best New Technology’, in recognition of its remote GSM service using Altobridge’s Remote Community Solution.

Hosted by the country’s ‘My Computer magazine’ in partnership with the Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) of the Government of Mongolia, the award recognises the positive impact Altobridge’s Remote Community Solution is having on enterprises and communities in remote parts of Mongolia. My Computer magazine, together with the coordinators, the ICTA, also comprised the award evaluation committee.

Mobicom has been deploying Altobridge’s Split-BSC Architecture – a core technology of Altobridge’s Remote Community Solution – across rural Mongolia since it awarded the company a three-year, fully-managed rural GSM contract in April last year. The deployments are providing cost-effective personal mobile communications for small user groups as low as 100, in village, enterprise and government border-post scenarios. Altobridge’s unique GSM architecture enables MobiCom to dramatically cut the costs of delivering communication services to these communities.

Munkhbold Udval, Director Research and Development Center, MobiCom Corporation, said, “We are delighted to have been awarded this ICTA 2008 award for the delivery of our mobile services to remote user groups, enabled by Altobridge’s remote GSM technology, which has helped us deliver profitable, much-needed, quality communications to isolated communities and enterprise installations.”

Mike Fitzgerald, Altobridge CEO, said, “We are delighted MobiCom has received this award. The compelling business model provided by our solution has enabled the operator to connect communities and enterprises still cut off from the benefits of mobile communications and, at the same time, experience new revenue streams where previously none existed. We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership with MobiCom, and the potential for future similar awards together.”

Barcelona, 16 February, 2009 – Altobridge, the leading provider of wireless solutions for cutting the cost of communications, announces today that commercial contracts and deployments of its first-generation ‘Local Connectivity’ solution are gathering pace with several Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) across Africa, Asia and the Far East. These MNOs have recognized the ability of local call switching in helping them meet the prohibitive cost challenge of satellite backhaul in remote communities.

Following a number of successful trials throughout these regions in which all deployments of the Local Connectivity solution in support of voice services went smoothly and no major technical issues were identified, MNOs are already experiencing huge savings. With satellite bandwidth costs of up to US$10,000 per month per 2mbit/s link, the MNOs now using Altobridge’s Local Connectivity solution are making savings of thousands of dollars per month, per site.

Subscribers are also experiencing a positive impact through the elimination of the delay, typically associated with local calls on sites with satellite backhaul. Handovers between cells, as local callers move from cell to cell within a town or remote location, are performed with the utmost precision, just as if calls have been switched by the central switching equipment.

One of the most crucial aspects of Local Connectivity deployment for these operators has been their ability to deliver improved services profitably, without making changes to network structure or charging systems.

R&D for Altobridge’s next-generation product line is well under way. Learning from successful deployments of first-generation technology, Altobridge will soon be releasing products to address efficient handling of data within the Radio Access Network. These products will allow MNOs to cost-effectively provide broadband data to mobile users at remote sites and to significantly reduce backhaul bandwidth requirements for data in urban areas.

Altobridge CEO, Mike Fitzgerald, said, “A number of MNOs throughout Africa, Asia and the Far East have chosen to benefit from the use of our Local Connectivity technology in deploying services to both small remote communities and more populated user groups. In these and other scenarios our solution offers a chance to keep local calls local and thus significantly cut the cost of providing services, anywhere. The next challenge is to address the growing demand for mobile data and Altobridge will deliver solutions to this in the very near future.”

Janne Hazell, Altobridge VP of Wireless Solutions, explained, “With an efficient Abis Interface, Altobridge’s Local Connectivity solution revolutionizes the business case for satellite backhaul. By deploying this Local Connectivity solution, operators in all markets with remote populations, will not only enjoy lower operating expenses on existing sites, but will also be able to provide cellular services to remote communities not previously served due to a lack of financial incentives. With an industry increasingly focused on operating expenses, Altobridge is confident that all MNOs the world over will introduce our Local Connectivity capability for voice and, eventually, broadband data throughout their networks, and not just for those sites backhauled by satellite.”

The company’s Remote Community Solution receiving recognition from industry bodies and governments

Kerry Technology Park, Ireland, 21 January, 2009 – Leading provider of wireless solutions for cutting the cost of communications, Altobridge, has been shortlisted by the GSMA for the 2009 Global Mobile Awards in the ‘Best Network Technology Advance’ category for its ‘Remote Community Solution’. (Further information at: www.globalmobileawards.com)

Altobridge’s Remote Community Solution combines a unique Fully Managed Service business model with patented technology enabling Mobile Networks Operators (MNOs) to provide cost-effective wireless services to clusters of subscriber groups as small as 50 to 500.

The solution is comprised of a combination of Local Connectivity (local switching capability),‘On-demand’ use of satellite, a unique bundling of VSAT and GSM services, all under a fully-managed service offering. This turnkey solution has removed the barriers to entry that have prohibited a positive ROI from remote subscriber groups in the past.

“Our congratulations go to all the nominees in this year’s Global Mobile Awards,” said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA. “In an uncertain economic climate, mobile communications continue to drive social, economic and technological development, as the calibre of entries this year again illustrates. To have been nominated from such a high quality field of more than 450 companies that entered is a tremendous achievement, and we await the announcement of the winners at next month’s Global Mobile Awards evening in Barcelona with great interest.”

Altobridge’s Remote Community Solution has also received ‘The Best New Technology’ award by the Information Communication Technology Agency of the Government of Mongolia for the positive impact it is having on enterprises and communities in remote parts of Mongolia.

Mike Fitzgerald, Altobridge CEO, said, “Our customer, Mobicom, was awarded the 2008 Best New Technology award by the Mongolian Government for our Remote Enterprise/Community Solution. The GSMA’s short-listing of our solution is further verification that we have succeeded in presenting MNOs with a compelling business model for connecting those communities and enterprises still cut off from the benefits of mobile communications.”

Cape Town, 18 November 2008 – Altobridge, the leading provider of telecommunications solutions that cut the cost of communications to, from and between wireless devices, will be at the AfricaCom event in Cape Town from 18-19 November (Stand A17) showcasing its Remote Community Solution. This combines the company’s Split-BSC Architecture, proven in numerous operational applications, with its Local Connectivity Platform, now licensed to leading wireless telecom vendors.

The combined Remote Community Solution has major cost-cutting implications for any mobile carrier attempting to deliver voice and data services to small enterprise and domestic communities in remote regions of Africa, and is one of the strongest value propositions for operators throughout the region at a time of global financial instability.

At the conference, Janne Hazell, Altobridge’s VP Wireless Solutions, will be presenting a paper: “Delivering Cost-Effective Wireless Communications in Remote Parts of Africa”, on Wednesday, 19 November, at 14.40hrs. The paper will address:

• The specific challenges of serving remote communities in Africa
• Developing cost-effective solutions for varied requirements
• Local Connectivity for reducing backhaul costs
• Case studies of specific projects in remote communities

The Local Connectivity element of the Remote Community solution removes unnecessary transmission costs, which are typically incurred when local calls are backhauled across the core network. By keeping local calls local, backhaul bandwidth remains free and costs are eliminated.

The Altobridge Split-BSC Architecture simultaneously frees up vital capacity by establishing ‘On-Demand’ instead of ‘Always-On’ operations, (based on Demand Assigned Multiple Access – DAMA), which restricts the use of expensive satellite bandwidth to times when only revenue-generating traffic is occurring and enables further savings of up to 50% on VSAT backhaul. This solution has demonstrated the lowest satellite bandwidth requirements of any system, being between 5 kbits/s and 8 kbits/s per call.

Altobridge’s Janne Hazell, said, “For communities across Africa with populations between 50 and 500 people, our Remote Communities solution is the most operationally efficient system of its kind and gives operators the chance of delivering much needed services, profitably, to both domestic and enterprise groups. Operator will be able to make annual savings per site potentially running into tens of thousands of dollars.

Altobridge is currently working with operators in other parts of the world (Maxis in Malaysia, and MobiCom in Mongolia), to deliver cost-effective rural communications to small, isolated public and enterprise populations.