wi-tribe limited Selects Aptilo Networks to Provide WiMAX™ Solutions for Deployments in the Middle East and Asia Pacific

Aptilo’s WiMAX CSN System™ to Enable WiMAX™ for wi-tribe; Jordan and Pakistan Are First Markets

WIMAX WORLD ASIA – BANGKOK, THAILAND – Aptilo Networks, the global leader in integrated solutions for Service Management and Access Control for wireless networks including WiMAX™, metro Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi hotspots, announces today that wi-tribe limited, a joint venture between Qatar Telecom (Qtel), the exclusive telecommunications service provider in the State of Qatar and A.A. Tukri Group of Companies (ATCO) of Saudi Arabia, has chosen Aptilo’s Mobile WiMAX™ AAA Connectivity Service Network (CSN) platform as one of the key network components to enable services over the WiMAX networks to be deployed by wi-tribe across the Middle East and Asia Pacific, utilizing Aptilo’s access and policy control service management platform.

The first WiMAX deployment is scheduled during Q2 in Jordan.  Later this year, a wi-tribe network in Pakistan will go “live” as well.

The standards-compliant Aptilo WiMAX CSN System™ is the first integrated wireless broadband data and voice services solution for standards-compliant Mobile WiMAX AAA and Service Control.  The unique multi-access support allows for management of services provided over WiMAX and Wi-Fi networks from within the same platform.

The Aptilo platform also offers service providers a flexible, cost effective approach to deliver and meet their time to market and time to revenue objectives for WiMAX network installations that need support for rapid expansion.

“Aptilo has a solid track record for successful commercial wireless broadband deployments and WiMAX.  Aptilo’s integrated solutions deliver proven functionality for our network and a wide variety of value-added offerings,” said Group Chief Executive Officer of wi-tribe limited, Dr Sami Hinedi.  “In addition, Aptilo’s interoperability with leading WiMAX vendors means we are well poised for future growth, and to leverage new services for our customers moving forward.”

“We are pleased to be the first operation to launch within the wi-tribe group,” said wi-tribe Jordan CEO, Dr Bassam Hannoun. “Our team in Amman has been working closely with Aptilo to provide the best customer experience. Our main aim as we launch in Jordan is to cater to the needs of our potential customer base.”

“Our relationship with wi-tribe limited further solidifies Aptilo’s leadership in Mobile WiMAX, broadening our presence throughout Asia and the Middle East,” said Jan Sjönell, managing director Asia/Middle East, Aptilo Networks.  “Aptilo is committed to providing our customers with the very best in WiMAX Service Management and Access Control to enable rapid deployments, and that feature exceptional stability and unmatched interoperability with other vendors in the WiMAX ecosystem.  We are proud to be working with wi-tribe to enable their important and far-reaching WiMAX deployments.”

Proven AAA Solution
Based on the field-proven, feature-rich Aptilo Service Management Platform™, Aptilo’s WiMAX CSN System delivers a highly flexible and versatile authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) and policy management solution for mobile WiMAX network services, with support for pre- and post-paid data and Voice over IP (VoIP) services.  The integrated data and voice services solution provides authentication, authorization and accounting through multiple authentication types and enforces Quality of Service (QoS) and service flow profile parameters for users, devices and services.  For Wi-Tribe, Aptilo’s QoS capabilities mean Wi-Tribe can offer customers a tiered service and pricing structure among different services.

Intelligent AAA Proxy functionality in the Aptilo WiMAX CSN System allows service providers to manage interactions with multiple external AAA servers and roaming partners while a large multitude of service offerings and combinations of time-, volume- and price-based subscriber accounts cover required business models.

The Aptilo WiMAX CSN System is fully interoperable with WiMAX-compliant clients and Access Service Network (ASN) nodes such as WiMAX 802.16-2005 based Base Stations and ASN Gateways through standards interfaces defined by The WiMAX Forum®.  It is an open platform that has demonstrated proven interoperability with several ASN and HA (Home Agent) products from leading WiMAX suppliers.

About wi-tribe limited
wi-tribe is your tribe: offering cost-effective broadband service using the WiMAX technology. wi-tribe will free the consumers from the shackles of a fixed line connection. Markets – From North Africa across the Middle East and up to the Far East, wi-tribe is ready to deliver broadband wireless access (BWA) across its region. Plug In and Go – wi-tribe offers unrivalled simplicity and a passion for customer service. International Presence – wi-tribe has its regional corporate office in the Kingdom of Bahrain, with Jordan becoming the first wi-tribe enabled market to be launched by the second quarter of 2008. Pakistan will go ‘live’ later this year. Other wi-tribe countries will follow by the first quarter of 2009.

Founding Partners – wi-tribe was founded by two Shareholders: Qatar Telecom (Qtel), one of the fastest growing Middle Eastern telecommunications services providers with a presence in over 15 markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, and A.A. Turki Group of Companies (ATCO), one the leading companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 26 divisions under its belt.  Partner: wi-tribe enjoys a comprehensive partnership with Clearwire, a provider of simple, fast, portable and reliable wireless high-speed Internet service in North America and Europe

About Aptilo Networks
Aptilo Networks offers a comprehensive wireless service management platform designed for service providers, enterprises and municipalities needing a rapidly deployable, scalable multiservice solution to easily manage data and voice services over WiMAX, metro wireless and Wi-Fi networks.  From smaller initial installations up to large carrier networks, Aptilo’s cost-efficient solution for wireless service management and delivery provides a rapid time to market while flexibly supporting future network and service expansion.

Selected by premier technology partners such as Nortel, Cisco and HP, Aptilo has become a global leader and the provider of choice enabling service providers, businesses and governments to rapidly manage and deliver highly secure voice and data services in public, semi-public and private wireless access zones in more than 40 countries worldwide.  Aptilo Networks is headquartered in Stockholm, with regional offices located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Plano, Texas.  For more information, please visit www.aptilo.com.

Media Contacts:
Hillary Call, Public Relations Manager
Aptilo Networks AB
P: +1 917 414-9262
[email protected]

Shereen Bushehri, Group Senior Manager, Brand and Corporate Communications
wi-tribe
P: +973 3696 1100
[email protected]