Econet Wireless's Innovative WhatsApp Service Plans Transform Network Usage

TORONTO, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Revolutionary WhatsApp bundles experience high-adoption rates and offer subscribers opportunity to access Internet on mobile devices for first time 

Sandvine (TSX: SVC), a leading provider of intelligent broadband and network solutions for fixed and mobile operators, today announced the overwhelming success of Econet Wireless's innovative service plans and how they are transforming network usage in the region.

Recognizing the opportunity for service plans that aligned with subscriber behaviors and trends, Econet Wireless developed and launched an unlimited WhatsApp bundle, using Sandvine's Usage Management solution implemented with Sandvine's local partner Three6Five Technologies. The WhatsApp bundles includes varying plans - 30 cents daily, 95 cents per week and $3 a month - to offer bite-sized Internet plans priced to meet the needs of the market demographic.

"Sandvine's leading business intelligence and service innovation capabilities enable us to better understand emerging trends on our network and act quickly to rapidly introduce new, innovative services that are highly-valued by our customers and that give us a competitive edge in our market," said Leon de Fleuriot, General Manager: Products and Services.

Since February 2014, the Unlimited WhatsApp bundle has experienced tremendous adoption by Econet subscribers, WhatsApp now accounts for more than 23% of network activity. Econet's Unlimited WhatsApp bundle allows subscribers to share photos, videos, voice notes, locations, files and attachments on the popular real-time communications application, as often as they want for a fixed price per month, week or even per day.

"Many subscribers are using first generation smartphones and Talk and Text plans. This bundle has opened up an opportunity for Econet to launch service plans that incentivize subscribers to move to data-driven services that are affordable to users and profitable to the network," said Don Bowman, CTO, Sandvine.

While other operators are talking about what to do in the future and what their platforms can support, Econet is using Sandvine solutions to seize opportunities and maintain their position as market-leader. The launch of Econet's WhatsApp bundle complements the recently launched Facebook service plan, also experiencing high-adoption.

ABOUT ECONET WIRELESS ZIMBABWE 

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the largest subsidiary of Econet Group is Zimbabwe's largest provider of telecommunications services, providing solutions in mobile and fixed wireless telephony, public payphones, internet access and payment solutions. Econet launched its network on the 10th of July 1998 and listed on 17th September 1998. It is one of the largest companies on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in terms of market capitalization. Econet Wireless Zimbabwe currently serves over 8.7 million subscribers on its network.

ABOUT SANDVINE 

Sandvine's network policy control solutions add intelligence to fixed, mobile and converged communications service provider networks to enable services that can increase revenue and reduce network costs. Powered by Sandvine's Policy Engine and SandScript policy language, Sandvine's networking equipment performs end-to-end policy control functions including traffic classification, and policy decision and enforcement across the data, control and business planes. Sandvine's products provide actionable business insight, the ability to deploy new subscriber services and tools to optimize traffic while enhancing subscriber Internet quality of experience.

Sandvine's network policy control solutions are deployed in more than 250 networks in over 90 countries, serving hundreds of millions of data subscribers worldwide, http://www.sandvine.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

Certain statements in this release which are not historical facts constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") and are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of such laws. Statements related to the scope of deployment of Sandvine's products by a specific customer and the potential revenue opportunity with any particular customer or in any market segment are forward looking statements. In addition this release may also reference certain orders that have not yet resulted in revenues for Sandvine and there is no assurance that such orders will result in revenue or the timing upon which such may occur. There may be conditions or other circumstances that may impact if and when such orders actually translate to revenue. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve both known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Sandvine to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, changes in internal deployment strategies or plans by specific customers; the growth of broadband internet usage and levels of capital spending on broadband network management systems; the timing of orders and manufacturing lead times; changes in customer order patterns or customer mix; insufficient, excess or obsolete inventory; increased competition in the broadband network equipment industry; dependence on the timely development and market acceptance of new product offerings and standards; rapid technological and market change; manufacturing and sourcing risks including dependence on key suppliers and key technologies; dependence upon indirect channel sales and resellers; factors such as business and economic conditions and growth trends in the broadband network equipment industry and in various geographic regions; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment including the impact of regulation related to the internet and the delivery of internet services. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions, and Sandvine does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information:

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT
Rick Wadsworth
Sandvine
+1-519-880-2400 ext. 3503
rwadsworth@sandvine.com

MEDIA CONTACT
Dan Deeth
Sandvine
+1-519-880-2232
ddeeth@sandvine.com