What part of Europe are you from?
There is discussion on LANPF board about payment for product in area Plaintree is interested in. What is your take regarding this. Your thoughts will be appreciated. TIA
newsalert.com
November 22, 2000 14:51
Plaintree Systems Signs GSM Partnership for Belarus and Middle East
OTTAWA, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ - Plaintree Systems Inc., a leading manufacturer of optical wireless products and network switches, today announced it has signed a sales representation agreement with the Vermoin Company, based in Geneva, Switzerland. As previously announced following the signing of an agreement in principle between the companies, Vermoin will act as regional sales representatives for Plaintree's optical wireless products in the Middle East, Belarus, and a number of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries. Vermoin is a privately held organization comprising key members from SB Telecom (SBT), a multinational telecommunications group.
The Value Added Integrator (VAI) agreements between Vermoin and Plaintree authorize Vermoin to sell Plaintree's optical wireless links and network switches. These links, which are part of Plaintree's new WAVEBRIDGE series, are a customized cellular solution, providing high-speed connections between cellular towers and base stations, bypassing the need for expensive cable installation and frequency licensing, a particular benefit for countries that do not have the cable and fiber installations that currently exist in North America.
In addition to Belarus, Vermoin will act as agents for Plaintree in 15 Commonwealth of Independent States, including Russia, Armenia, Latvia, and the Ukraine. Vermoin also covers territories in other countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania. Vermoin will also distribute Plaintree's products in 28 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
David Watson, President and Chief Executive Officer for Plaintree Systems traveled to Belarus for the signing ceremony with Vermoin on November 17, 2000. While in Minsk, Vermoin arranged meetings for Mr. Watson with the Belarus Ministers of Communications, Telecommunications and Health to begin the certification process for Plaintree's optical wireless links.
"I was struck by just how perfect our systems are for these particular geographical areas," said Mr. Watson. "These countries do not have the telecommunications infrastructure that we almost take for granted, so our products will provide much-needed connections for them while offering them tremendous savings on fiber installation and alleviating the chronic frequency problems they face from rf (radio frequency) microwave equipment."
Vermoin is primarily involved in the cellular telecommunications industry, and also holds the license for, and operates, the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) sector in the Republic of Belarus under the name of Mobile Digital Communications, Velcom. Initially, Vermoin is currently in the process of signing individual subscribers for the Belarus operation and hopes to cover half of Belarus territory during the next 18 months. Vermoin has forged alliances with many of the industry's key organizations as a member of the GSM MoU (Global System for Mobile Communications, Memorandum of Understanding). The GSM MoU is the governing body responsible for the development, deployment and evolution of the GSM standard for worldwide digital wireless communications.
About Plaintree Systems
Founded in 1988, Plaintree Systems Inc. is a leading manufacturer of network switches and optical fiberless LAN and telecommunications products. Using infrared (LED) technology, Plaintree's high-quality products offer high- speed data and voice transmission without any licensing requirements. These links are easy to install. Once installed the links are safe, secure, reliable, and robust, avoiding costly network downtime. Unlike other wireless solutions, these fiberless links can be densely co-located to provide big bandwidth connectivity without the frequency problems associated with crowded airwaves. The technology is a cost-efficient alternative to the expense of laying cable to connect the 'last mile'. Internet service providers and cellular operators are some of the potential markets for Plaintree's systems. Another high-potential niche market is the avionics industry, where radio frequencies are tightly regulated.
Plaintree Systems, headquartered in the Ottawa region, operates manufacturing facilities for switches and wireless products in Arnprior, Ontario. Plaintree is publicly traded in Canada on the Toronto Stock Exchange and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq Bulletin Board, with 86,059,869 shares outstanding. Plaintree maintains a world-wide web site at plaintree.com.
This press release may include statements that are forward-looking and based on current expectations. The actual results of the company may differ materially from current expectations. The business of the company is subject to many risks and uncertainties, including changes in markets for the company's products, delays in product development and introduction to manufacturing and intense competition. For a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties related to the company's business, please refer to documents filed by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian regulatory authorities, including the company's prospectus dated July 10, 2000.
SOURCE Plaintree Systems Inc. |
