Telekom Malaysia Berhad Selects Ascend for Nationwide Prepaid Calling Card System
Business Wire - November 24, 1998 08:18
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 24, 1998--
Fault-Tolerant, Central-Office Compliant Platform Supports Deployment of Enhanced Service
Ascend Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASND), a leader in wide area networking (WAN) and Intelligent Networking (IN) solutions for providers and users of the next-generation public network, today announced that Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TMB), the leading telecommunications service provider in Malaysia, has adopted the Ascend Signaling Platform, a fault-tolerant, central-office compliant computing platform, for the deployment of its nationwide prepaid calling card services.
Global Interactive Technology Pte Ltd, an application partner of Ascend, provides the prepaid calling card application. The complete system will be installed and maintained by Ascend's distributor in Malaysia, Pernec Technologies SDN BHD.
"Ascend has teamed with Global Interactive Technology to deliver reliable enhanced services to telecommunications operators around the world," noted Dr. Mohd Khir Harun, Senior Vice President, Major Business & Government, Telekom Malaysia Berhad.
"With Ascend's fault-tolerant computing systems and maintenance support provided by Pernec, we will be able to provide advanced and reliable prepaid calling card services to all our customers nationwide -- a solution that meets the stringent requirements of round-the-clock availability."
"The commercial deployment of this enhanced service is very important to us, and it further solidifies our existing strong relationship with Telekom Malaysia," said Bruce Sachs, executive vice president and general manager of Ascend's Carrier Signaling and Management Division.
"We value this opportunity in particular as it indicates our focus on working together with our distributors and application partners to deliver best-in-class, enhanced services solutions to our telecommunications customers."
Central-Office Compliance
The prepaid calling services application is deployed on a central-office compliant, Ascend Signaling Platform running an SVR4-compliant UNIX(R) Operating System based on UNIX System V release 4.0 multi-processing. The computing platform is engineered to today's most rigorous power, performance and safety specifications for central-office installation.
It has been tested to meet all applicable Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) requirements for computer equipment in central office and switching environments. The systems operate on -48 volt DC power for central-office installability worldwide.
The Ascend Signaling Platform is built for easy deployment, operation, and maintenance. Services support is provided 365 days a year, 24-hours a day through an advanced on-line, continuous service-monitoring system. The computing platform's value-added features include transparent hardware-based fault-tolerance, hot-pluggability, and on-line expandability.
About Telekom Malaysia Berhad
Telekom Malaysia is the largest and main provider of basic telecommunications services in Malaysia with 4,223 million customers at the end of 1997. Telekom Malaysia has three mobile licenses operating the NMT 450, 800 gig/amps and PCN 1800 services. Overseas investment includes Ghana Telecom, South African Telkom, a telecommunications and GSM 1800 cellular telephone company in Thailand, and a GSM company in Bangladesh with more than US $860 million investment.
Since Telekom Malaysia has been appointed the official supplier for the Kuala Lumpur 98 XV1 Commonwealth Games, telecommunications capability and capacity will play an integral role in the Games. Applications used must be state-of-the-art, advanced and dependable which includes the "Ring Ring Card."
Towards the incoming era of information technology and multimedia innovation, Telekom Malaysia will continue to rein and master the telecommunications industry and network globally. For information, visit Telekom Malaysia on the Internet at: telekom.com.my
About Pernec Technology
Since the company's beginning in 1990, Pernec Technologies Sdn Bhd has been the distributor of Stratus Computer, now Ascend Communications as of Oct. 19, 1998, in Malaysia. Pernec chose to distribute Ascend computing systems because internal studies indicate that Ascend provides a fault-tolerant architecture similar to our NEAX 61 switching equipment.
Pernec has been awarded various computer and communications projects by telecommunication operators and banks. The company's involvement in computer and communications businesses will be upgraded continuously with the latest, cutting-edge technology to meet our customer's requirement. Pernec not only supplies basic telephony to major telecommunication operators, but also offers value-added services products such as AIN, Centrex, ISDN, Voicemail and Prepaid Calling Card.
About Global Interactive Technology Pte Ltd
Global Interactive Technology Pte.Ltd./Interactive Technology Limited is a leading developer of integrated telecommunication-computing applications that provide businesses with a competitive edge, while improving customer satisfaction, increasing productivity and cost efficiency.
Areas of expertise include application development and maintenance; client-server implementation; telecommunications and networking and workflow/business process re-engineering. The company also provides service and support including project management and system integration.
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASND) develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide.
For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend Web site at www.ascend.com, or send e-mail to info@ascend.com. For Investor Relations, please call our communications hotline at 800/648-3059 or 760/704-4423 (outside the U.S. & Canada).
Additional investor information can also be accessed on our Web site at: ascend.com. Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, CA 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4 and fax is 510/814-2300.
The foregoing statements may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations as a result of factors including, but not limited to, the Company's success in developing, introducing or shipping new products, competition, the mix of distribution channels employed, the Company's dependence on single or limited source suppliers for certain components used in its products, risks inherent in international sales, seasonality and general economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed in Ascend's 10-K, 10-Q and other filings made periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Ascend Communications, Inc.
Lynette Gutcho, 508/490-6430
lynette_gutcho@stratus.com
or
Telekom Malaysia
Ir Rozinah Anas, 603/208-7295
or
Pernec Technology
Zarina Amir, 603/458-1052
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