Telscape International, Inc. Commences Satellite Internet Backbone Services in Guatemala
Will Now Provide Services to MAYANet for Internet Services, Video Conferencing and Tele-medicine Applications
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 1999-- Telscape International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSCP - news), announced today that it has initiated satellite-based Internet Services in Guatemala, as the initial step in its strategy to provide an array of value-added Internet services to corporate and private-sector customers throughout Central and South America. As an initial part of this strategy, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, INTERLINK Communications, Inc. will provide satellite-based Internet access, videoconferencing and tele-medicine services, for Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia or ''MAYANet'', the National Science and Technology Organization for the public and private sector in Guatemala.
Telscape will now provide Internet services through INTERLINK's international satellite teleport in Mountain View, California, utilizing the Satmex satellite system. This state-of-the-art teleport facility addresses a rapidly growing need throughout Latin America for high-speed voice, video, data and Internet services. With an OC-12 connection directly into the tier-one Internet backbone coupled, with INTERLINK's established record of reliability over a decade, Telscape is positioned to become one of the leading service providers to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Latin America. In addition, the Company will also offer ISP's additional value added services such as advanced IP networking design, implementation, monitoring and help desk and outsourcing services provided by its systems integration division in Mexico.
Scott Crist, CEO of Telscape International commented, ''Our early entry into the Latin American Internet marketplace immediately establishes our position as a leading service provider, with a distinct competitive advantage, creating a solid foundation as the demand for Internet services grows throughout Latin America. As was the case in the United States a few years ago, many of the first users of Internet services in Latin America are government and scientific institutions. Our agreement with MAYANet represents the first step in our strategy of establishing Telscape as a leading provide of Internet backbone and other value-added services to ISPs throughout Central and South America, which remains as in one of the fastest growing and least penetrated regions in the world. Becoming a one-stop-shop for Latin American ISPs also enables us to forge commercial relationships and alliances with local Internet companies in each country, which will also lead to other mutually beneficial business endeavors.''
Magaly Morales, the National Coordinator for MAYANet, commented: ''The services provided to the MAYANet Operational Center by Telscape International, through INTERLINK have exceeded our expectations. INTERLINK has the technical capabilities to support the continuous growth of our network throughout the entire Guatemalan peninsula. With the use of this system, we are implementing applications and services via satellite such as video-conferencing, tele-medicine, distance learning and an improved Internet access, and represents essential services that were formerly either extremely difficult or impossible to access. These applications and services benefit the institutions that make up the National Science and Technology Organization in the public, private and academic sectors.''
Telscape International, Inc. is a fully-integrated communications company. The Company, based in the U.S., supplies international voice, video, data and Internet services, via switched and dedicated networks, principally to and from Latin America. The Company owns and operates a satellite teleport facility in Mountain View, CA, which delivers an array of communications services to customers throughout North, Central and South America. In addition, the Company provides a full range of systems integration and value-added telecommunications services in Mexico to major public and private sector customers. Telereunion, a Telscape subsidiary, is one of only sixteen companies that has been granted a facilities-based long distance concession by the Mexican government.
Note: Certain statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks related to market acceptance of and demand for the Company's products and services by customers, continued relationships with and pricing dependence for third party suppliers, and continuity of existing government regulations and policies. Statements with respect to acquisitions and continued trends are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Furthermore, the Company has significant operations in Mexico, subjecting the Company to certain political and commercial risk.
Contact:
Telscape International, Inc., Houston Todd M. Binet President and Chief Financial Officer 713/968-0968 tbinet@telscape.com or Strategic Growth International, Inc., New York Richard E. Cooper/Robert Schatz 516/829-7111 sgi@netmonger.net
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