Africell Selects Alepo for 3G & LTE Data Charging and Policy Control in a Multinational Agreement

Ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) – the largest mobile industry event in Europe – Alepo has announced a new, multinational contract with the mobile operator group, Africell, for the deployment of Alepo’s convergent data charging and policy control solution as part of Africell’s highly anticipated planned LTE networks in Africa.

Per the agreement, Africell will employ Alepo’s Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) solution, pre-integrated with deep packet inspection, for 3G and 4G LTE services in Sierra Leone, Uganda, the Gambia, and the DRC. In doing so, Africell will be able to leverage this all-in-one data monetization platform in order to quickly bring to market new, competitive 3G and 4G data offers, including sponsored apps and content from OTT content providers, roaming data passes, and much more.

In the selection of Alepo’s PCRF, Africell CTO Younes Chaaban underscored the potential for next-generation data services in the African markets.

“Rising smartphone penetration and the subsequent explosive demand for high-speed mobile internet services in our markets has revealed a strategic opportunity to drive up data revenues in the coming years,” Chaaban said, adding, “Alepo’s PCRF solution will make it possible for us to harness 3G and LTE data services in order to increase ARPU and profitability of our networks.”

The introduction of the Alepo PCRF into Africell’s mature mobile network environment ensures zero impact on mobile voice revenues while Africell develops its long-term data strategy. In addition, the open, standards-based solution will integrate seamlessly into Africell’s multi-vendor network environments, alongside multiple industry-leading core network equipment providers.

“As voice revenues plateau, savvy carriers like Africell recognize the need for an aggressive data monetization strategy,” said Shivani Sardesai, Director of Sales for Africa at Alepo. “They also know, as we do at Alepo, that it takes a robust, fast, and flexible data charging and policy control solution to realize this strategy as well as overall business success.”