The Navini and Verso alliance will bring the Verso MetroNet VoIP Overlay solution (an open standards, cost-effective next generation softswitch platform) to WiMAX access infrastructure enabled by Navini.
The VoIP solution integrates and packages a standard set of features and capabilities which includes the Verso Clarent endpoint (Class 5) and tandem (Class 4) switching technologies as well as other core switching capabilities and voice services. The vertically integrated softswitch offering is designed to enable an end user's access to Voice over Broadband (VoBB) applications such as prepaid, voicemail and hosted PBX.
The combined solution was recently rolled out by joint customer, Direct on PC Ltd (DOPC), the leading ISP in West Africa, on their pre-mobile WiMAX network. DOPC is deploying in the 2.3 GHz band in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt in Nigeria. The services will include customized Internet and intranet access for Banking, Corporate, Oil and Gas, Educational and Government sectors throughout the region. In addition, DOPC plans to offer Internet solutions for the Home and Small Medium Enterprise (SME) segments. DOPC expects to have over 15,000 users in 2007 and as they migrate to 802.16e Mobile WiMAX, they expect to radically change the broadband services and mobile telephony environment. The DOPC network and the VoIP offering will seamlessly migrate to standards compliant Mobile WiMAX via software upgrades to the Navini RipwaveMX platform.
"The Verso-Navini VoIP relationship is ideally suited for the emerging West African market, and we believe it has the potential to change the broadband and mobile landscape in the region. We expect to have the ability to substantially increase our subscriber base and to bring an unprecedented variety of services to the region using Verso and Navini next generation technologies," said Munish Sharma, managing director, DOPC.
"We are delighted to form this alliance with Navini Networks. We began with highly successful interoperability tests which are now complete, followed by a first customer, DOPC. Based on our collaboration, market feedback, and early success, we are confident that our VoIP applications coupled with Navini's expertise in radio frequency access technology will be hugely successful marketing initiative for both companies," said Monty Bannerman, chief executive officer, Verso Technologies. "We can introduce new services to reach new markets packaging VoIP with WiMAX. This partnership is a true win-win for both companies and for operators."
"As the Mobile WiMAX market takes shape, opportunities to market VoIP over WiMAX will address the cost and revenue needs of operators as well as capture a significant piece of the market," said Sai Subramanian, vice president, product management and strategic marketing, Navini Networks. "Navini's Smart WiMAX? suite brings to market a highly sought-after wireless infrastructure solution that enables many IP applications and new sources of revenue for broadband operators."
