19 October 2006, Cape Town: Gateway Communications will today (19 October 2006) announce it will become the first African satellite connectivity provider to integrate its network with the Home and Visitor Location Registers (HLR & VLR) of its customers. Both operators and phone users gain huge benefits from more efficient routing, providing cost savings and higher quality calls. The benefits will be available from the first quarter of 2007.

The Home Location Register is a central database that contains details of each mobile phone subscriber that is authorised to use the network. The Visitor Location Register handles requests for mobile phones to attach to the network. In conjunction they enable a mobile handset to be located precisely by the satellite network operator at any time. This technology is particularly appropriate and cost-effective for Africa, where fibre connections are limited and satellite bandwidth is in short supply. Gateway’s innovation and focus on bringing the most suitable technology to African conditions give it an advantage in this rapidly developing market.

In order to bring benefits to customers, Gateway has made a significant investment into integrating these registers. Gateway is now able to direct a call to the nearest of the more than 350 Mobile Switching Centres (MSC) that it connects with. This makes additional satellite ‘hops’ unnecessary, resulting in lower capacity costs, greatly improved quality of calls, and more efficient network utilisation due to the lower requirement for bandwidth.

Speaking at the GSM conference in Cape Town, Peter Gbedemah, Chief Executive of Gateway Communications, commented:

“Our development of the HLR and VLR potential is yet another example of Gateway bringing pioneering technology to Africa. Our African focus and wide reach allows us to continue to provide the most efficient and highest quality services to our customer, and today’s announcement provides evidence of our commitment to ongoing improvement of these services. This news strengthens Gateway’s position as the premier provider of technology services both to African mobile operators and international telecommunications companies.”