…SAT 3 fibre optic intercity access delivers next generation cross-border connectivity…

3 December 2007 - Gateway Communications, the largest Pan-African network provider with customers in over 40 African countries, is now offering West African multi-national corporations the latest MPLS VPN services. Gateway's new MPLS network is inter-connected across the UK, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa and provides international connectivity to the rest of the world.

MPLS VPN provides cost-effective, high performance access to large amounts of bandwidth that enables companies to implement secure multi-site networks, deploy multicast applications and facilitate online collaboration.

MPLS VPN empowers IT managers with the flexibility of bandwidth-on-demand, providing additional capacity as necessary to accommodate bursts in data traffic. This is both economical and practical as it makes sense to only pay for additional services as they are needed, rather than lease an expensive dedicated line that may go under utilised part of the time.

Gateway's MPLS VPN network is carried on the SAT 3 fibre optic cable connecting Europe with the West Coast of Africa, down to and including South Africa. Gateway completed the roll out its MPLS network in September 2007 and is already live and carrying traffic in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa with plans to offer services in Mozambique within the first quarter of 2008. Gateway will continue to roll out this MPLS Corporate network across Africa in 2008, adding new cities to meet customer demand.
Gateway's Commercial Director for Business Services, Steve Chapman said: "Gateway is currently providing MPLS VPN services to multinational customers such as Julius Berger and Alcatel in Nigeria and we are rapidly expanding our customer base. MPLS is the next generation of network servicing, and Gateway's offering is not just about the highest standard of networking, it's about backing it up with the kind of world class service and SLA's that can only be committed to if you have people on the ground to deliver it - which we do ."

Each Gateway VPN network solution is tailored to specific customer requirements, whether in cities or remote sites. Fully managed services allow the customer to focus on its core business, while Gateway takes care of the network.

Gateway CEO Peter Gbedemah said from London: "Gateway is implementing the latest technology in Africa as soon as it becomes available. We provide our customers with the highest quality and most cost effective service on the market - backing up our commitment with Service Level Agreements. We are the only company in Africa offering an all IP pan-African network. As businesses in Africa expand across the continent, we are perfectly positioned to offer them a continent-wide and integrated solution."
Gateway's MPLS solution provides terrestrial radio, fibre and satellite connectivity services across Africa and into the rest of the world through its partnerships with Pacific Century Cyber Works Global (PCCW) and Cisco.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

About Gateway Communications

Gateway Communications is the leading provider of communications services to telecommunications operators and corporations in Africa. Gateway delivers the highest quality, most comprehensive and affordable international communications services to over 40 countries on the African continent. Gateway has teams for skilled engineers employed across 13 African countries offering total service management and support on all projects.

Since 1994 Gateway Communications, formerly trading as GS Telecom has established itself as the most successful operator in Africa and has been responsible for pioneering the delivery of cost effective voice, data and e-commerce services throughout the region.

Gateway Communications has developed the local presence, skills and expertise combined with the global infrastructure and relationships to uniquely meet the voice and data communications needs of local telecommunications operators and businesses operating within Africa.

ENQUIRIES

Gateway Communications
Tom Tudor
Tel: + 44 20 7173 1700

Press (Africa Practice)
Marcus Courage (London)
Tel: + 44 20 7462 7550

Kim Polley (Johannesburg)
+27824453479

Tim Newbold (Lagos)
+2348054949866

Derek Bbanga (Nairobi)
+254724416442