France Telecom extends Intec Interconnect license to Senegals Sonatel

• Deal further endorses Interconnect as the preferred local and international billing system, setting a precedence for France Telecom’s 100+ affiliates
  
• Expands Intec presence in Africa

26 June 2002: Intec Telecom Systems has announced that France Telecom, one of the world’s biggest telecommunications carriers, has ordered an extension to its existing InterconnecT™ license to be used by its subsidiary company Sonatel, the major incumbent operator in Senegal. A team from France Telecom’s center of expertise for InterconnecT will implement the software solution, which Sonatel will then use to handle domestic interconnect and international settlements. The deal increases Intec’s customer base in Africa, which already includes Maroc Telecom, Cell C Mobile, Telkom South Africa and Telecom Egypt.

As part of a major co-operative marketing agreement signed with Intec, France Telecom recommends, installs and supports InterconnecT, the market leader in domestic and international settlements, to its affiliates worldwide. The agreement is a positive endorsement for Intec’s core product, which provides the flexibility and scalability to meet the billing demands of Sonatel’s extensive telecommunications network.

"Interconnection fees provide a vital source of revenue for operators in Africa, especially for international calls", explains Christian Ciupek, Director of Intec’s billing operations in France. "Approximately 4 billion dollars (US) are generated each year as a result of interconnection agreements in Africa. Intec’s InterconnecT solution will allow companies to increase this revenue stream by 30 per cent. This adds up to an extra billion dollars worth of income that all African countries can reinvest into their infrastructure. Senegal’s Sonatel company is leading the way for this type of cost optimisation to occur, and it will witness the benefits of InterconnecT as soon as the software is installed on its network."

In addition to InterconnecT, France Telecom will also be installing InterconnecT ITU, which allows telecommunications companies to crossbill and settle accounts reliably, accurately and speedily, with full compliance to the standards defined by the International Telecommunications Union.

"This deal reinforces France Telecom’s commitment to Intec’s InterconnecT solution, while giving us an opportunity to expand our presence on the African continent", said Kevin Adams, Intec’s CEO. "The opportunities for our software solutions in the region are very promising, as countries such as Senegal continue to upgrade its telecommunications infrastructure and extend their services to a greater portion of the population."

For More Information:

About France Telecom
France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is one of the world's biggest telecom operators, providing customers with a full range of services, including local, long-distance and international telephony. The company also offers data, mobile telecommunications, Internet, cable television, broadcast and value-added services. The company was valued at close to $200 Billion U.S. in 2000. To learn more about France Telecom, please visit the website at http://www.francetelecom.com.

About Sonatel
Sonatel is a subsidiary of France Telecom and is the incumbent operator in Senegal. Founded in 1985 after the merger of Télésénégal and the Post Telecommunications Office of Senegal, Sonatel has developed one of Africa’s most extensive telecommunications infrastructures, offering fixed lines, Internet and GSM services to its growing customer base. Sonatel became an independent company in 1997 in a strategic partnership with France Telecom, which today owns 42.33 percent of Sonatel’s capital. To learn more about Sonatel, please visit the website at http://www.sonatel.sn/

Intec Telecom Systems
Intec Telecom Systems is an award-winning worldwide Operations Support Systems (“OSS”) vendor for fixed, mobile and IP/next-generation networks, with more than 300 customers for its products worldwide. Founded in 1997, Intec was listed on the London Stock Exchange (Code: ITL.L) in June 2000. Intec is the market leader in intercarrier billing systems and one of the largest suppliers of convergent mediation software. The company is currently listed in Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu’s top 500 fastest growing companies in Europe, and received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in April 2002 for its success in growing international sales by almost 400% in 3 years. Intec’s portfolio includes:

• Inter-mediatE™ - convergent mediation solution
  
• InterconnecT™ - intercarrier billing including US CABS and ITU
  
• Inter-activatE™ - flow-through provisioning and activation
  
• Inter-venE™ - telecom fraud management software
  
• Maxi-routE™ - least cost routing solution
  
• Omni-chargE™ – billing for all types of non-call telecom services