Augere Undertakes Network Expansion with Huawei's SingleRAN WiMAX Solutions in Bangladesh

SHENZHEN, China, September 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Augere Wireless Broadband Bangladesh, a leading wireless broadband service provider, has signed a network expansion frame contract with Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, to further expand its Qubee branded wireless broadband service offering in Bangladesh.

Under the agreement, Augere Bangladesh will deploy WiMAX base transceiver stations (BTS) across Bangladesh using SingleRAN solutions.  The SingleRAN WiMAX solution features a co-platform of hardware and software, software upgrading, and parallel transmitting, able to support dual modes of WiMAX and LTE TDD at the same time. Upon deployment, Augere can flexibly deploy multi-mode networks according to different scenarios to meet the trends of evolution and convergence, thus effectively reduce the multi-technology deployment risk and protect operators' investments.

Augere Bangladesh is a subsidiary of Augere Holdings, which is a worldwide WiMAX/TDD LTE telecommunication service operator based in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Augere Bangladesh is the leading wireless broadband service provider in the country - growing its base by 164 percent in the last six months - and is committed to bringing high speed, affordable and trouble-free internet to more places in Bangladesh.

Augere's global vision is to deliver a fast, reliable wireless broadband service to developing nations, such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Uganda and Rwanda where internet usage ranges between 4 and 24 percent of the population, well below the levels of developed countries. Augere believes that by developing strong local partnerships it will be able to substantially increase availability and usage, offering significant opportunities for regional economic growth and greater global connectivity.

Martin Swinburne, Augere Group CTO said "We very pleased to strengthen our relationship with Huawei and to be expanding our service provision in Bangladesh. We have a great opportunity to build our brand within the market and offer Bangladeshi's a world class service."

This strategy ties in with that of the Bangladesh government, with its telecoms plan "Digital Bangladesh" which aims to establish a digital economy by 2021 through effective use of information and communication technology. To achieve this target, the expansion of reliable and affordable internet facilities to remoter parts the country is a must. As such, Augere will look to extend the cooperation with its global strategy partner, Huawei Technologies Limited for the upcoming network expansion project and beyond

Jerry Mobbs, Augere Bangladesh CEO said "This contract is great news not only for Augere and Huawei but also the people of Bangladesh. Fast and reliable broadband is an essential in the 21^st

century digital economy and with this expanded network we can offer a better service to more Bangladeshis."

Kevin Ho, President of Huawei Global Wireless Network Solution Sales said "Working with Augere, we are able to provide advanced base stations designed to deliver a high quality broadband service across Bangladesh. This is a partnership we hope to build upon in future."

Augere's first commercial wireless network was launched under the Qubee brand in Pakistan in July 2009. This was closely followed by the Bangladesh network in October 2009. By the end of 2010 Augere was operating wireless networks comprising more than 500 radio base stations and serving over 65,000 broadband customers.

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About Augere

Augere was established in September 2007 by an experienced team of global telecoms executives with the vision of delivering 'broadband for all'. It is committed to achieving this through the delivery of fast, reliable broadband internet services in emerging markets using wireless networks.

Augere has an established leadership team in place with over 150 years experience in the telecommunications industry. Since its formation, the Company has successfully raised more than $250m of finance.

Augere currently has access to spectrum in Pakistan, Bangladesh, the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in India, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. Access to additional spectrum is being actively pursued across Africa and Asia.

Augere's first commercial wireless network was launched under the Qubee brand in Pakistan in July 2009. This was closely followed by the Bangladesh network in October 2009. By mid 2011 Augere was operating wireless networks comprising more than 650 radio base stations and serving over 100,000 broadband customers.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Through our dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, we have established end-to-end advantages in telecom networks, devices and cloud computing. We are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers by providing competitive solutions and services. Our products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population.    For more information, visit Huawei online: http://www.huawei.com

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SOURCE Augere