KPN, NTT Docomo, Rogers Communications, SingTel, Telefónica, Telstra and Vimpelcom to cooperate on global M2M business

KPN, NTT Docomo, Rogers Communications, SingTel, Telefónica, Telstra and Vimpelcom to cooperate on global M2M business initiatives

    --  Alliance to focus on development of seamless, globally accepted
        M2M solution, targeted at multinational customers with
        connected M2M devices
    --  Alliance members will also cooperate to develop the M2M market
        and enhance the customer experience
    --  The initiative is open to other operators

TORONTO, July 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Seven world mobile operators, KPN, NTT Docomo 
Inc., Rogers Communications, SingTel, Telefónica, through its Telefónica 
Digital unit, Telstra and Vimpelcom have entered into a memorandum of 
understanding to form an alliance to support a single, global platform that 
multinational businesses will leverage to enable connected devices in multiple 
countries.

The goal of the global alliance is to create efficiencies for manufacturers 
and enhance the end user experience by enabling delivery of a global product 
with a single SIM, eliminating roaming costs in the countries of participating 
operators. The centralized management of SIM status and performance of M2M 
devices across the globe will be managed from a single web interface with 
Jasper Wireless' Control Center.

The objectives of the alliance are to develop and grow M2M business globally, 
simplify development of new business models, speed delivery of new product and 
services to market and help multinational business customers better manage and 
reduce operational costs.

It is expected that this initiative will increase the ability of all 
participating operators to significantly enhance the M2M value proposition 
fortheir respective customers in markets around the world.

The alliance members will continue to cooperate to develop the M2M market by 
enriching customer experiences to better meet the needs and expectations of  
global customers.

About KPN
KPN is the leading telecommunications and ICT service provider in the 
Netherlands, offering wireline and wireless telephony, internet and TV to 
consumers and end-to-end telecom and ICT services to business customers. In 
Germany and Belgium, KPN pursues a Challenger strategy in its wireless 
operations and holds number three market positions through E-Plus and BASE. 
KPN provides wholesale network services to third parties and operates an 
efficient IP-based infrastructure with global scale in international wholesale 
through iBasis. For M2M we offer PAN European solutions.

At December 31st, 2011, KPN served over 44.5 million customers, of which 36.6 
million were in wireless services, 4 million in wireline voice, 2.5 million in 
broadband Internet and 1.4 million in TV. With 18,687 FTEs in the Netherlands 
(31,084 FTEs for the whole group), KPN reported full-year revenues of EUR 
13.1bn and an EBITDA of EUR 5.1bn in 2011. KPN was incorporated in 1989 and is 
listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

About NTT Docomo
NTT DOCOMO is a world-leading integrated-services company centered on 
mobility. The company serves over 60 million mobile customers in Japan via 
advanced wireless networks, including a nationwide 3G network and one of the 
world's first commercial LTE networks. Leveraging its unique capabilities as a 
mobile operator, DOCOMO is a leading developer of cutting-edge technologies 
for NFC mobile payments, mobile GPS, mobile TV, intuitive mobile assistance, 
environmental monitoring, smart grids and much more. Overseas, the company 
provides technical and operational expertise to eight mobile operators and 
other partner companies. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London 
(NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. Please visit www.nttdocomo.com for 
more information

About Rogers
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media 
company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data 
communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable 
television, high-speed Internet and telephony services. Through Rogers Media 
we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, 
magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media. We 
are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and 
on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).

About SingTel
SingTel is Asia's leading communications group providing a portfolio of 
services including voice and data solutions over fixed, wireless and Internet 
platforms as well as infocomm technology and pay TV. The Group has presence in 
Asia and Africa with 445 million mobile customers in 26 countries, including 
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. It also 
has a vast network of offices throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and the United 
States.

About Telefónica Digital 
Telefónica Digital is a global business division of Telefónica. Its mission 
is to seize the opportunities within the digital world and deliver new growth 
for Telefónica through research & development, venture capital, global 
partnerships and digital services such as cloud computing, mobile advertising, 
M2M solutions and eHealth. Telefónica Digital will deliver these innovative 
products and services to Telefónica's 300 million customers as well as 
leveraging the power of the internet to enter new markets. It is headquartered 
in London with regional centres in Silicon Valley, Sao Paolo, Spain and Tel 
Aviv. Jajah, Terra, Tuenti, giffgaff and 48 are all part of the Telefónica 
Group.

About Telstra.
Telstra is Australia's leading telecommunications and information services 
company, with one of the best known brands in the country. Telstra offers a 
full range of services and competes in all telecommunications markets 
throughout the country. Telstra has Australia's largest fully integrated IP 
network and Australia's largest and fastest mobile broadband network, the 
Telstra Mobile network, comprising 3G-HSPA+ (across the entire coverage 
footprint) and 4G-LTE technology (in more than 100 locations across Australia) 
operating together. Telstra also has an international presence spanning 15 
countries, including China.

About VimpelCom
VimpelCom is one of the world's largest integrated telecommunications services 
operators providing voice and data services through a range of traditional and 
broadband mobile and fixed technologies in Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, 
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Laos, Algeria, 
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic and Canada. 
VimpelCom's operations around the globe cover territory with a total 
population of approximately 782 million people. VimpelCom provides services 
under the "Beeline", "Kyivstar", "djuice", "Wind", "Infostrada" "Mobilink", 
"Leo", "banglalink", "Telecel", and "Djezzy" brands. As of March 31, 2012 
VimpelCom had 209 million mobile subscribers on a combined basis. VimpelCom is 
traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (VIP). For more 
information visit: http://www.vimpelcom.com

Allison Fitton Rogers Communications Inc. +1-416-935-8860 
Allison.Fitton@rci.rogers.com

To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: 
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2012/10/c7180.html

CO: Rogers Communications Inc.
ST: Ontario
NI: TLS VNT 

-0- Jul/10/2012 07:00 GMT