Export Award For Argent Networks

Export Award For Argent Networks

Auckland, Friday 28, 2003 -- Auckland communications software company Argent Networks Ltd has won a Trade New Zealand Export Award for rapidly growing its foreign exchange earnings in little over a year in business.

[Note to editors: Media are invited to attend the presentation of the Argent Networks Ltd Export Award, by Trade New Zealand Director Peter Menzies, at 4pm on Friday 28 February, at 41 Sale Street, Auckland.]

Argent Networks has won its Export Award in the Emerging Exporter Category of Trade New Zealand’s annual Awards programme.

Argent manufactures and sells billing, network mediation and customer care solutions for mobile, fixed and ‘next generation’ telecommunication networks.

Chief Executive Officer Chris Jones says one of the biggest market opportunities for Argent is the growing need for real-time event based billing, where telecommunications companies can bill for any event anytime – whether it is voice or data.

Mr Jones says last year the company launched its next generation billing system ArgentEclipse – a leading edge product designed to target this market.

“The technology contributed to the winning of a coveted $4.5 million contract that will help reconnect Afghanistan with the outside world, following decades of wartime separation.

“We were selected as a key partner in the deployment of Afghanistan’s first mobile communications network, utilising GSM technology. The network will provide the people of Afghanistan with national and international calling for the first time.”

Mr Jones says Argent targets telecommunications carriers and service providers who want to reduce their reliance on legacy vendors.

“We offer these companies flexible, innovative technology that is price competitive with quick time to market. These strengths give us a competitive advantage in the international marketplace.”

Mr Jones says competitive pressures have led to an increased demand for value added products, as well as convergence within the industry, and that’s exactly the niche that Argent is targeting.

He says exports currently account for approximately 75% of Argent’s sales, with key markets being the USA, Europe, Central and South East Asia and Australia.

“Trade New Zealand has supported us in developing our international business, which is growing in the face of difficult market conditions for the telecommunications industry.”

Trade New Zealand Account Manager Murray Jeffrey congratulated Argent Networks on its Export Award. He says the company has achieved excellent export results since it was established in June 2001.

“Argent is successfully and aggressively competing in a tough international environment. It has a very clear vision and strategy to exploit what it has identified as a significant market opportunity, and has worked hard to understand its customer needs. Argent knows what makes it competitive and it has the innovative technology required to win contracts.”

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