GPRS Peering Service for Asia

Asia's largest telco- independent Internet Communications Service Provider, Pacific Internet or PacNet says that it is leading a group of seven international leading GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange) providers to commercially launch Asia's first neutral Peering Point for GPRS roaming, Peering Singapore. The seven GRX providers include Aicent, Belgacom, British Telecommunications, Cable & Wireless, Infonet Services Corporation, REACH and TeliaSonera. Belgacom and Cable & Wireless have already inked formal agreements with PacNet to use the GRX Peering Point immediately.

The GSM Association (GSMA), the global trade association for the world's GSM mobile operators, is supporting Peering Singapore, together with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), which first mooted the idea of creating Asia's first neutral Peering Point in Singapore.

Peering Singapore operates between GRX providers using Internet Protocol (IP) and allows the providers to exchange GPRS traffic via the peering point.

''We are delighted that our telco-neutral position and IP network competency have put us in a position to operate Peering Singapore for the telcos. Previously, GRX providers have to work out separate agreements with each other to enable roaming. With Peering Singapore, GRX providers can now simply connect to a common peering point in Asia to help their mobile operator customers interconnect globally,'' said Mr. Tan Tong Hai, President and CEO of PacNet.

Mr. Rene Herlaar, Chairman of the GSMA GRX Working Party, said, ''We welcome the commercial launch of Asia's first GRX neutral peering point in Singapore by PacNet. The realization of this initiative is a key milestone in tandem with the growing GPRS traffic, in delivering transparent, cost effective GPRS roaming connectivity services required by the mobile operators community in Asia. From a larger cooperation perspective, the peering point is a result of a committed multi-party effort - the GRX Working Party, the IDA, the GRX providers and PacNet - to move closer to the goal of making wireless work globally.''

Peering Singapore, as a neutral GPRS traffic transition point, its processes are transparent to all GRX providers. Built on its privately managed regional IP network, the Peering Singapore offers a high level of security and performance backed by service level agreements. PacNet's regional network operation centers monitor the network round the clock, ensuring optimal network condition."

Posted to the site on 26th February 2004