Ivory Coast’s VIPNET Selects Alepo to Drive Charging and Billing for 4G LTE Rollout

Alepo, a provider of network and IT software solutions for global communications service providers, has announced a new agreement with VIPNET, a major internet service provider in Ivory Coast, to support its launch of a new 4G LTE network.

As part of the deployment, VIPNET will leverage Alepo’s Service Enabler 9 (SE)– a complete BSS/OSS framework that spans CRM, charging and billing, and customer experience management.

VIPNET cited the need for advanced mobile broadband speeds to increase data ARPU as a main driver behind the LTE project. With a complete Alepo charging and billing core, VIPNET will be able to readily deliver, manage, and monetize 4G LTE services, upon launch and as those services and market demands evolve.

Alepo’s Convergent Charging and Billing platform readily enables advanced LTE use cases including data rollover, application-based charging, shared and family plans, and many others, giving operators like VIPNET the ability to differentiate its business and stand apart in the emerging LTE marketplace.

“VIPNET is committed to the advancement of digital technology and keeping pace with the latest technology trends to exceed the customers’ expectations in Ivory Coast. Thanks to Alepo’s vast expertise in 4G LTE core infrastructure, we are able to make that commitment a reality,” said Ahmed Chérif, CEO at VIPNET Ivory Coast.

While Ivory Coast’s internet and broadband sectors remain largely underdeveloped, the government of Ivory Coast has started creating awareness about digital technology so that a greater number of citizens adopt internet connectivity. With the new 4G LTE launch by VIPNET Ivory Coast is expected to move fast to reduce its digital divide.

“We are proud to be supporting VIPNET as they embark on a path to implement LTE and are confident that our solution provides them with the tools necessary to rapidly expand customer base and increase market share in Ivory Coast,” said Dan Stern, VP of Sales at Alepo.

Alepo’s partnership with VIPNET underscores the technology vendor’s focus on the West Africa region as an area with tremendous growth potential for evolved wireless broadband technologies, including LTE and Wi-Fi. In addition to VIPNET, Alepo recently announced LTE deployments with Ghanian operators BLU Telecommunications and ZIPNET. Alepo has major communications service provider customers across the region, including Mali, Niger, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Conakry.