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| Quiconnect Opens Up the Asian Wi-Fi Market for Its International Telecoms Customers Quiconnect announces that it has signed several major bilateral Wi-Fi roaming agreements to extend Wi-Fi services in Asia for its customers which comprise some of the world's leading global telecoms companies. This will see hotspot access considerably enhanced for international travellers visiting India, Thailand, the Philippines and China, with over 7,500 locations in total now available. Quiconnect has completed contract negotiations with wireless ISP Airborne Access, to provide Wi-Fi roaming services throughout the Philippines across its network of 550 hotspots, and True, a Thai network operator, which adds 3,700 hotpots in the Greater Bangkok area and beyond. A deal with India's first and largest ISP, VSNL, adds a further 250 hotspots at high traffic locations including 15 international and national airports, cricket stadiums, numerous cafes, hospitals, banks and shopping malls. VSNL plans to open another 1,000 hotspots this year to increase Internet access to business and net-savvy travellers on the move. A partnership with Coordinate Technologies Communication Limited (CTCL), a systems integrator, establishes bilateral Wi-Fi roaming services with CTCL's major Chinese carrier customers - China Mobile, China Netcom and China Telecom. For the first time, this will open up 3,000 Chinese hotspots to travellers visiting the country, as well as allowing Chinese consumers themselves access to global Wi-Fi networks when they are on business abroad. Based on its heritage in the area of Wi-Fi integration among telcos and network operators, Quiconnect has also been chosen as the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA)-approved WRIX partner for VSNL and True. One of only three independent companies to have achieved WRIX accreditation, this will see Quiconnect provide all Wi-Fi systems integration for both of these Asian carriers among the WBA membership, comprising 28 of the world's leading telcos, as well as with non-WBA companies. Along with China, Quiconnect is opening up, for the first time, international Wi-Fi access for Indians travelling globally through the deal with VSNL. In a phased rollout, Quiconnect will be carrying out all the technical work to implement 12 interconnections with WBA members. The new agreement with CTCL and Quiconnect will see Wi-Fi access first established for SFR and Airborne Access with other major carriers following once commercial negotiations are completed. Services are expected to be live by the end of Q2 2007. With 95% share of the Chinese telecoms market, China Mobile, China Netcom and China Telecom, are the country's major telcos, currently operating 3,000 hotspots at key strategic locations including 43 airports, hundreds of hotels and retail sites, convention centres, offices, and coffee bars including all Starbucks locations in Beijing. The number of Wi-Fi hotspots and Chinese business Wi-Fi subscribers are set to increase significantly over the next 12 months as a result of the considerable investment strategy in China and the explosive demand from Chinese businesses for Wi-Fi services, given users have been historically isolated from international Wi-Fi networks. According to statistics from the Chinese National Tourist Office, total visitor counts to China reached over 124 million while, in the same period, more than 31 million Chinese nationals travelled abroad – a number increasing 25% year on year. The UK is one of the top destinations for Chinese business travellers, along with the US, Japan, France and Germany. The Quiconnect–CTCL partnership will stimulate Wi-Fi awareness and usage by giving both Chinese and international Wi-Fi users the confidence that business grade, user friendly Wi-Fi connectivity is available anywhere, any time, and at affordable prices. Foreign telcos are therefore particularly attracted to China in terms of promoting their Wi-Fi services, not just because of the size of the market potential, but also because 3G technology does not compete locally which evidently increases the opportunity and commercial value to them. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Networking News :: home page |