CallPlus Announces Blue Reach An $3 Million Launch

CallPlus Announces Blue Reach And $3 Million Launch In Whangarei to Progress WiMax Services Rollout

New Zealand, Auckland – Tuesday 5 September, 2006 - CallPlus, New Zealand’s largest 100% kiwi owned full service telecommunications company, has made two announcements in preparation for the next steps towards a national rollout for its WiMAX service for voice and broadband. It has formed a separate company, Blue Reach, to build the wireless network, and announced a $3 million commercial launch of a voice and high speed broadband service targeting consumers in Whangarei later in the year.

Operational separation of telecommunications companies is very topical in the telecommunications industry. Blue Reach has been established as a separate entity from the start with a view to wholesaling the service to other carriers once CallPlus has established its network. Graham Walmsley has been appointed as the General Manager of Blue Reach.

As one of the first telecommunications companies globally to trial WiMAX technology for voice and broadband service, the results have exceeded CallPlus’ expectations. It is moving to the next phase, a $3 million commercial launch of a voice and high speed broadband service targeting consumers in Whangarei, with a national rollout planned to commence in 2007.

“We have been getting good voice quality with broadband speeds up to 10Mbps, both up and downstream, within 2 kilometers off the base station and speeds of 6Mbps in both directions over 6 kilometers away,” said Mr Walmsley. “The details of the service are confidential however consumers will be able to get significantly faster broadband speeds than are currently on offer as well as some great calling plan options, including free calls between all users on the network and the benefits from VoIP technology.

“WiMAX is gaining momentum worldwide and a number of people are considering their plans. We are already in the game. This rollout will be the largest of its kind in New Zealand and will be the first to offer consumers a WiMAX voice and high speed broadband service,” concluded Mr Walmsley.

ENDS

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