Fastlink Rings in the Savings with Cisco Systems' Multi-Service IP Contact Centre Solution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

AMMAN, Jordan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2003

Fastlink Prepares for the Second Wave of Jordanian

Mobile Boom Through Deployment of Cisco's Scalable

AVVID Architecture and IPCC Solution

Fastlink, Jordan's leading mobile service provider, today launched a new IP Contact Centre (IPCC) in response to rising customer demand. The new contact centre, which hosts around 200 agents, will use solutions from Cisco Systems to service Fastlink's customers' base, which is approaching one million users, and ensure continuous service delivery as Fastlink's operations grow.

Cisco's solution will allow the contact centre to process more than 65,000 calls per day and will enhance the service experience for Fastlink's customers through an IP Intelligent Voice Response (IVR) solution. Based on Cisco's AVVID solution (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data), Fastlink will be able to handle multi-media communications, and scale its operations to include new agents or applications, such as e-learning, without suffering downtime.

"Fastlink is proud to consolidate its position at the forefront of innovation telecommunications technology in the Middle East by being first in introducing this state-of-the-art solution. Our Jordanian subscriber will reap tangible benefits of our revolutionized contact centre which promises significant improvements in the user experience," said Michael Dagher, CEO of Fastlink.

"Given the lightening pace of change in the Jordanian telecommunications industry, it was essential that our IPCC solution promised maximum flexibility and could support a variety of new applications and services. Cisco's converged network offers ease of management and also allows us to efficiently use our investment for fast growth," added Mr. Dagher.

"Fastlink has a futuristic vision of service for its clients. Its management team recognises that changing behaviour among consumers is driven by the new capabilities of mobile phones. They have wisely chosen a solution that will enable their call centre staff to meet the current and future needs of their customers, and extend the scope and range of the services Fastlink is able to provide," said Tony Ghattas, Cisco's Regional Manager for Levant.

Fastlink is the largest of all telecommunications networks in Jordan, and was the first operator to offer mobile phone services in Jordan at the time of its founding in 1995. The company is gearing up for second wave of Jordanian mobile boom which observers predict will more than double mobile penetration over the next three years. With it's solid track record in technology innovation and customer service, Fastlink is poised to be the prime beneficiary of this rapid growth in mobile phone subscriptions. The company is also bracing for a heightened regional presence with its parent company Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) of Kuwait, a forward-looking operator with an ambitious regional expansion strategy. In January 2003, MTC acquired a majority stake in Fastlink in a transaction considered the largest single acquisition in the Gulf/Middle East area and, by far, the largest private sector investment in Jordan by a G.C.C. private sector company.

Fastlink's IPCC includes Cisco's AVVID architecture, Fully redundant Cisco Call Manager, Internet Service Nodes, a high capacity IP IVR designed specifically for services providers with large call volume, Intelligent Call Management (ICM), the nervous system of the call centre, responsible for routing subscriber calls based on business rules and associated skilled groups call treatment that best servers the caller, while enabling with the Contact Centre with Multi-service Computer Telephony Integration (CTI). Additionally, Fastlink deployed Voice Gateways comprised of Cisco AS5400 connected directly to their Mobile Switching Centres, IP Telephony using Cisco high end 7960 phones equipped with agent headsets.

About Jordan Mobile Telephone Services Company Ltd. ("Fastlink")

Jordan Mobile Telephone Services Company was established in 1994 as a joint venture between Motorola and Jordanian investors. Fastlink started commercial operations in September 1995 and was the first operator to introduce mobile phone services into Jordan. Fastlink is licensed to carry out GSM 900 MHz mobile services and covers 99.9% of Jordan's population and 66.0% of the country's geographic area. It offers integrated mobile communications services comprising of voice communications, value-added services, SMS, MMS, WAP and GPRS. In 2003, Fastlink became a subsidiary of Mobile Telecommunications Company K.S.C. ("MTC"). Since its inception, Fastlink has increased its subscriber base at an exponential growth rate, with the number of users currently approaching 1 million and representing 75% of total market in Jordan.

About Mobile Telecommunications Company K.S.C. ("MTC")

Mobile Telecommunications Company K.S.C. was founded in 1983 and is the largest mobile operator in Kuwait with over 650,000 customers. MTC is currently the second largest listed company on the Kuwait Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of approximately US$ 3.2 billion as of 20 December 2002. The company has achieved a sound reputation for high level of business successes, often exceeding investor's expectations. MTC pioneered mobile and paging services in Kuwait, starting with the ETACS system and the GSM 900/1800 MHz. The Company continues to provide its customers with the latest advancements in technology and more importantly it constantly improves customer services and benefits. MTC constantly seeks to forge partnerships with key global companies to bring the best products and services to Kuwait and the Middle East.

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