MCI WorldCom First U.S. Carrier To Be Awarded FBO Licence In Singapore
SINGAPORE - 29 March 2000 - MCI WorldCom, a leading global
telecommunications company, has been granted a Facilities Based
Operator (FBO) Licence by the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of
Singapore. MCI WorldCom is the first U.S. carrier to receive an FBO
licence in Singapore. The licence allows the company to now lay its own
fibre optic telecommunications network in Singapore, thereby fulfilling
the company's visionary approach and strategy of providing its
customers with its wholly-owned end-to-end managed communications
solutions.
The announcement signals MCI WorldCom's further penetration into
the Singapore telecommunications market after the recent announcement
made by the IDA to bring forward the introduction of full market
competition in the Singapore telecommunications sector to April 1,
2000.
Mark Russell, MCI WorldCom South Asia's General Manager, said,
"Since the opening of our state-of-the-art Operations Centre in
March 1998, the granting of this FBO licence is the most significant
step in the roll out of MCI WorldCom's substantial investment in
telecommunications infrastructure and services for our business
customers."
MCI WorldCom currently operates as a resale licensee in Singapore
and provides a range of international data services by leased lines.
Under an FBO licence, the company is now able to build its own fibre
network infrastructure supporting the full range of high-speed
metropolitan and international voice and data services. In line with
its international strategy, MCI WorldCom will focus its
facilities-based activities on Singapore's central business
areas.
"I applaud the Government and the IDA for their bold and
pro-competitive approach aimed at enhancing Singapore's
attractiveness as a regional infocommunications hub. We see the
government's plan to liberalise the Singapore market as a positive
and significant step in growing the telecommunications industry in Asia
Pacific. MCI WorldCom looks forward to working with the government in
Singapore to offer and expand our services to our business customers
here," said Mark Russell.
The US$152 billion Asia-Pacific telecommunications market is of key
strategic importance to MCI WorldCom. The company currently has a
presence in 12 countries in Asia. With this facilities licence,
Singapore now joins MCI WorldCom's expanding networks in Australia,
Japan and Hong Kong where the company is building its own network
facilities. The company also recently opened operating companies in
South Korea and Taiwan.
"By building our own networks, MCI WorldCom eliminates
dependence on other carriers and provides a single point of contact and
seamless communications services at lower costs to customers,"
said Mark Russell.
Earlier in March 2000, MCI WorldCom was also granted a Service Based
Operator (SBO) Licence by the IDA which allows the company to provide
services such as International Simple Resale (ISR), Resale of Leased
Circuit, Virtual Private Network and Managed Data Network in Singapore.
This licence will now be folded into the broader facilities-based
licence.
MCI WorldCom already has a list of MNC customers in various vertical
markets in Singapore. With this licence, MCI WorldCom will be allowed
to provide its full range of innovative data, Internet and voice
services to these global customers who have come to expect the kind of
end-to-end network solutions provided by MCI WorldCom.
MCI WorldCom (NASDAQ: WCOM) is a global leader in
"all-distance" communications services with operations in
more than 65 countries. Revenues in 1999 were US$37 billion, with more
than US$15 billion from high-growth data, Internet and international
services. MCI WorldCom and Sprint have announced a merger agreement,
which the companies expect to close in the second half of 2000 after
regulatory and shareholder approvals. For more information go to
http://www.wcom.com.
