UPC Business & Phonovation Sign €7 Million Deal

Ireland – Monday 11th October, 2010 –

In an agreement set to be UPC Business’s largest this year, Irish company Phonovation, has signed a three year deal worth €7 million, whereby UPC will carry Phonovation’s voice traffic on a national and international basis as well as host its switches.

In operation for the past 22 years, Phonovation provides integrated voice and SMS solutions to some of Ireland’s leading companies and government departments, processing 15 million calls and texts a year.

In Ireland, Phonovation is the largest premium rate and non-premium rate operator in a market worth €81 million in 2009 – for a range of broadcast and print media including RTE and Independent News & Media.  The company was also behind the HSE’s highly successful Swine Flu helpline, which received in excess of 120,000 calls over the course of the epidemic.  In the past few months, the company has integrated Bulk SMS services into its existing Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services, helping a range of companies streamline their customer facing operations.

Commenting on the deal, which will help Phonovation expand internationally Gavin Carpenter, Sales Director of Phonovation said:

“As a market leader in providing voice and text solutions, we see tremendous opportunities in taking our proven services and know-how to more destinations. UPC was selected as our preferred supplier as they offered the most cost-effective network solution. Our partnership with UPC Business has enabled us to extend new and existing business into other European countries and maximise our potential.  We look forward to strengthening our relationship with UPC over the three year contract.”

UPC Ireland offers to business customers a complete range of telecommunications solutions including voice, data and internet services to the Corporate, Public Sector, Wholesale and SME markets.  UPC Ireland delivers these services over a national fibre and microwave networks in Ireland.  Operating in 11 countries across Europe and utilising their AORTA network that connects up to 15 countries UPC has the ability to offer Corporate businesses and Wholesale carriers pan European voice and data services.

Gavan Smyth, Business Services Director of UPC Business concluded:

“Over the past 18 months, UPC Has grown its business relationships and our €1billion investment in a state-of the arte fibre network is paying dividends.  Today, we have signed one of the biggest deals for 2010 and I’m delighted to confirm that our wholesale voice service is growing in demand and UPC is becoming the preferred carrier in the business community in Ireland. “