15 - 21 June 2000

US telecoms company enters agreement with Maltacom

by David Kelleher

Startec Global Communications Corporation, an Integrated Communications Provider of Voice over IP (VoIP) data and Internet services, yesterday announced it had entered into agreements with leading telecommunications companies in nine countries, including Malta, for the provision of VoIP services.

According to a company statement, Startec will provide leading telecommunications companies in Malta, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, El Salvador, Russia, Yemen and Ghana with access to to the company's global VoIP network of over 70 IP gateways.

Contacted yesterday, Maltacom's chief executive officer, Stephen Muscat, told The Malta Business Weekly that the two companies had a commercial relationship.

"We had signed an agreement in 1998 with Startec during the World Telecommunications Conference which was held in Malta. Like any telecoms company, Maltacom is always looking at new technologies," Mr Muscat said.

"These agreements accelerate Startec's VoIP penetration into the markets of these countries," said Ram Mukunda, chief executive officer of Startec. "Now, consumers in these countries can access Startec's rapidly growing VoIP service. These agreements reaffirm our commitment in building the leading VoIP enterprise.

Startec is able to route VoIP voice calls over the public Internet and its private managed network, and is one of a few carriers that can seamlessly switch between the two, thereby ensuring toll-quality sound and worldwide connectivity. The company provides year-round monitoring through its Global Network Monitoring Centre.

Startec Global Communications Corporation is an Integrated Communications Provider of VoIP data and Internet services to the emerging economics. Startec's Internet Protocol Network, with extensive reach into the emerging economies, includes eight international gateway switches located worldwide, 71 IP gateways, an ATM ring and ownership interests in 15 undersea fibre optic cables. As a facilities-based carrier, Startec can provide a full suite of services on its network, including bundled long distance and Internet access, Voice over IP and a constellation of ethnic virtual communities.

For more information, visit its Web site: http://www.startec.com.