Tata Communications : and DTTech build new cloud-based network for African mobile and IoT providers

Tata Communications, a leading digital infrastructure provider, and South African ICT services provider Dreamtime Technologies (Pty) Ltd. (DTTech), have joined forces to build a new cloud-based virtual mobile network to serve African mobile and IoT providers. It will act as the foundation for next-generation mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) services in sectors such as healthcare, transport, mining, agriculture, banking and retail. DTTech will also use the new cloud-based network to give mobile network operators (MNO) the flexibility to introduce new services and extend their geographical reach, which will help them attract new customers and generate new revenue streams without large upfront investments.

'With our Tata Communications MOVE™ platform, and our partnership with DTTech, we bring businesses ubiquitous, high-quality connectivity for their mobile and IoT services in Africa, and enable them to capture, move and manage information securely and reliably across borders.'

Anthony Bartolo, Chief Product Officer, Tata Communications

The new infrastructure will use the Tata Communications MOVE™ mobility and IoT platform, which - through Tata Communications' collaboration with DTTech - will support regional break-out to Internet providers in Africa. This means that when a user accesses a data-enabled mobile or IoT app, the Internet connection is not routed the traditional way - via long distances and through multiple transit parties back to the home operator, which is slow and leads to a poor user experience. Instead, through Tata Communications' collaboration with DTTech, the app will connect to the Internet in region. With direct connectivity to Tata Communications' superfast subsea fibre network in international waters along the coast of Africa, the new infrastructure ensures a high-quality, seamless user experience for digital services across the continent.

The IoT market in Sub-Saharan Africa is set for significant growth over the next few years. According to GSMA Intelligence, the pervasiveness of IoT connections in the region is expected to yield CAGR of 20% during 2016-2025, outstripping growth in other parts of the world^[1].

'We're witnessing a mobile and IoT innovation drive in Africa, with new, disruptive services surfacing in all sectors,' said Karmanie Govender, Founder and CEO, DTTech. 'We look to become the partner of choice for businesses and MNOs that want to introduce new solutions, engage with their customers in new ways or boost operational efficiencies through these next-generation digital applications. Working with Tata Communications enables us to address our customers' growing appetite for mobile and IoT services, while generating new revenue streams, as growth in Africa gains momentum.'

Through the use of Tata Communications MOVE™, DTTech's healthcare, transport, mining, agriculture, banking and retail customers are able to buy mobile network access from MNOs across Africa cost-effectively, on a pay-as-you-go basis. As a result, companies of all sizes are able to launch new mobile and IoT services - without making large up-front investments in their own mobile infrastructure or service management.

The cloud-based, fully automated and API-enabled Tata Communications MOVE™ platform also simplifies and accelerates the roll-out of new mobile and IoT services for DTTech's customers. This is because it is tightly integrated with their business processes, eliminating the complexity associated with the management of operations, including service activation, billing, promotions and value-added services.

'From vehicle fleet management and agriculture to healthcare and retail, mobility and IoT open the door to new, truly transformational services with regional and global scale,' said Anthony Bartolo, Chief Product Officer, Tata Communications. 'Yet, all too often businesses' digital transformation ambitions are being constrained by the inherently local nature of mobile networking, marred by complex roaming agreements and patchy, unreliable connectivity in different countries. With our Tata Communications MOVE™ platform, and our partnership with DTTech, we bring businesses ubiquitous, high-quality connectivity for their mobile and IoT services in Africa, and enable them to capture, move and manage information securely and reliably across borders.'

Tata Communications MOVE™ is part of the company's aim of creating global, borderless mobile experiences for people and things. It is underpinned by Tata Communications' partnerships in the world's mobile ecosystem and its global network, which today connects 4 out of 5 mobile subscribers and carries over 25% of the world's Internet routes.

[1] GSMA Intelligence 'IoT: the next wave of connectivity and services', Sylvia Kechiche (3 April 2018)

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About Tata Communications

Tata Communications Limited (CIN no: L64200MH1986PLC039266) along with its subsidiaries (Tata Communications) is a leading global provider of A New World of Communications™. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises and communications service providers.

The Tata Communications global network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks and a Tier-1 IP network with connectivity to more than 240 countries and territories across 400 PoPs, as well as nearly 1 million square feet of data centre and colocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications' depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services and leadership in global international voice communications. Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India.

www.tatacommunications.com

About DTTech (Dreamtime Technologies Pty Ltd.)

DTTech is a Black-owned and women empowered entity, with a key focus on ICT within Africa. DTTech provides a full core servicing platform with a footprint in Africa, offering innovation through exclusive technology. We aim to align IT with business strategies & demands, to embrace best practices and leverage industry standards and frameworks to deliver high-value business solutions. This model is applied to various business/commercial scaling models to suit the client's needs. By offering a managed service we can help optimize your cost, have a faster time to market, allowing our clients to run their business without operational hurdles. Connecting Africa through unlocking the future of mobility.

Media contact

Karmanie Govender | DreamTime Technologies

[phone] (office) | [phone] (mobile) | [e-mail]

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

Certain words and statements in this release concerning Tata Communications and its prospects, and other statements, including those relating to Tata Communications' expected financial position, business strategy, the future development of Tata Communications' operations, and the general economy in India, are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including financial, regulatory and environmental, as well as those relating to industry growth and trend projections, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tata Communications, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, among others, failure to increase the volume of traffic on Tata Communications' network; failure to develop new products and services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; failure to successfully complete commercial testing of new technology and information systems to support new products and services, including voice transmission services; failure to stabilize or reduce the rate of price compression on certain of the company's communications services; failure to integrate strategic acquisitions and changes in government policies or regulations of India and, in particular, changes relating to the administration of Tata Communications' industry; and, in general, the economic, business and credit conditions in India. Additional factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, many of which are not in Tata Communications' control, include, but are not limited to, those risk factors discussed in Tata Communications Limited's Annual Reports. The Annual Reports of Tata Communications Limited are available at www.tatacommunications.com. Tata Communications is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements.

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