Algeria Telecom Partners With Iristel to Offer Algeria Connect

Algeria Telecom Partners With Iristel to Offer Algeria Connect

ALGIERS and TORONTO, Canada, January 20/PRNewswire/ --

- New VoIP Service Provides Virtual Algerian Phone Numbers to Iristel Subscribers Worldwide -

Algeria Telecom, Algeria's leading provider of telecommunications services, and Iristel Inc., a leading global provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, today announced an exclusive alliance to offer Algeria Connect, a new VoIP service that provides virtual Algerian phone numbers to Iristel subscribers worldwide. With Algeria Connect, phone calls from Algeria can be made to subscribers regardless of where they are located in the world, using an Algerian phone number and at the cost of a local call.

As part of this exclusive agreement, Algeria Telecom and Iristel will jointly offer Inbound Direct Inward Dialling (DID) services to subscribers around the world who want an Algerian number for their existing phone line. All calls coming through an Algeria Telecom DID switch are routed to Iristel's gateway that is Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM)-interconnected with the Algeria Telecom switch. Iristel's gateway then routes calls to the Iristel switch, which then routes calls to Iristel subscribers.

"Algeria Telecom is committed to providing our subscribers with high-quality, low-cost solutions, enabling them to stay connected with family and friends on a global basis," says Dr. Moussa Benhamadi, CEO of Algeria Telecom. "The Iristel Inbound DID solution effectively closes the gap between the PSTN (public switch telephone network) and VoIP networks to maintain the quality digital signal our customers have come to expect from Algeria Telecom, while allowing a limitless amount of concurrent incoming calls and lowering our monthly costs."

"We are excited about our new alliance with Algeria Telecom and the possibilities it offers Iristel subscribers and partners around the world," says Dr. Akram Benalia, President of Iristel Algeria. "This partnership allows Iristel and Algeria Telecom to provide customers with VoIP solutions in compliance with the highest IP telecommunications industry quality standards combined with an international level of customer service."

Samer Bishay, President and CEO of Iristel, adds, "With today's announcement, Iristel is reinforcing its role as the 'Operator's Operator' by providing enhanced services, functionality and infrastructure to a world leading organization like Algeria Telecom."

Iristel's Inbound DID service is designed for calling card companies, VoIP carriers, inbound call centres, competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and virtual carriers requiring a local presence in multiple locations around the world. The service is designed for consumers, carriers and businesses that need to originate high-quality local calls from various international locations, in a cost-effective manner.

About Algeria Telecom

As the first publicly-owned telecommunications company in Algeria, Algeria Telecom's goal is to support modernization projects such as e-government and the upgrading of payments systems, as initiated by the Algerian Government under the guidance of the Ministry of the Post and Technologies of Information and Communication (MPTIC). The company provides and maintains the network infrastructure for institutions and ministries across multiple sectors (e.g., health, education, business) in Algeria. In addition, Algeria Telecom is committed to promoting the benefits of broadband Internet and making innovative data and voice services accessible throughout the country. For more information, visit: http://www.algerietelecom.dz/

About Iristel Algeria

Created in 2003, Iristel Algeria is a member of the Iristel Inc. network. The company is committed to offering the latest in Internet-based communications technologies to residential and business customers in the Algerian market, while delivering exceptional customer service at an international level. Iristel Algeria leverages its longstanding partnership with Algeria Telecom and the sophisticated network of Iristel Inc. to be the Operator of Choice for IP services in Algeria. In 2007, Iristel was the principal partner of Algeria Telecom for the termination of its international traffic. For more information visit: http://www.iristel.dz.

About Iristel Inc.

Established in 1999, Iristel Inc. is a leading global provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. The company was granted a carrier license by the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) in 2000. Today, Iristel also has domestic operator licenses in Algeria, Dominica and Romania with an additional 20 points of presence (PoPs) throughout the world. The company offers the broadest portfolio of IP services in Canada, including hosted IP PBX, virtual faxing, virtual roaming, and global IP trunking products and services. More information about Iristel can be found at: http://www.iristel.ca.

          Media Contacts:     - Lizanne McReelis, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0011, pr@iristel.com     - Jodi Echakowitz, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0010, pr@iristel.com     - M. Abdelhakim Meziani, Algeria Telecom, Phone: 213 21 76 18 83, Email:       mezianide@djaweb.dz  

Source: Iristel Inc

Media Contacts: Lizanne McReelis, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0011, pr@iristel.com; Jodi Echakowitz, Echo Communications, +1-416-800-0010, pr@iristel.com; M. Abdelhakim Meziani, Algeria Telecom, Phone: +213-21-76-18-83, Email: mezianide@djaweb.dz

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