Tech Mahindra (formerly known as MBT), a leading India-based IT services provider dedicated exclusively to the telecommunications industry, announced the implementation of its Adjunct Rating solution at Fastlink, in Amman, Jordan. Developed on RateIntegration’s PriceMaker(tm) Enterprise Pricing Server product, the solution has reduced time-to-market for new services, reduced operational costs, and improved the flexibility of the entire billing process for Fastlink.

Fastlink, owned by MTC, a leading Middle East mobile operator, commands more than 70% market share in Jordan and has over 1.8 million subscribers. Post de-regularization, faced with aggressive competition from the new operators, Fastlink needed to find ways to retain their subscriber base with new products and acquire new subscribers. To increase its flexibility to launch new products, services and improve the overall operational effectiveness of its existing investments, Fastlink was looking for a convergent rating and billing solution.

With over 18 years of experience developing solutions for the telecommunications industry, Tech Mahindra’s consultants developed a business case that would allow Fastlink to leverage the significant investments it had already made in its underlying business and operations support systems (BSS/OSS) while ensuring a non-disruptive transition with zero system-outage. The solution was to implement an adjunct rating engine and product catalog rather than replacing the entire billing system.

Tech Mahindra selected RateIntegration’s PriceMaker(tm) Enterprise Rating Server, using its proprietary package selection framework, a component of mASTER(tm). Based on proven methodologies and industry best practices, Tech Mahindra has developed a transition process framework (mASTER(tm)) for effective service delivery to customers. mASTER(tm) (Tech Mahindra, Analysis, Solution, Transition, Execution & Relationship) helps in managing the outsourcing of a portfolio of applications. Overcoming the system integration challenge with the help of Fastlink IT and user groups from marketing, sales and finance, Tech Mahindra implemented the solution in record time adhering to high standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

RateIntegration’s PriceMaker(tm) Enterprise Rating Server is a rules-based pricing capability utilized by software applications via standard integration frameworks. PriceMaker performs a broad range of pre and post paid functions, including pricing, rating and discounting for voice and data services. Designed specifically work with in-house and third-party applications, PriceMaker allows companies achieve unparalleled time to market and preserve existing OSS/BSS investments.

The pre-set risk of credit control analysis is available almost real-time and Fastlink has launched major campaigns utilizing granular pre-paid airtime buckets bundled with post-paid services. The adjunct rating solution has thus become a production-proven, scaleable business component of FastLink that will be used to model and implement any future products and offerings.

“Changing the Billing System for an ongoing and leading GSM operator like Fastlink is much like changing the engines of an aircraft mid flight! We knew that the best method to approach this would have been through following a modular approach of an Adjunct Rating solution around PriceMaker as the Rating engine. Tech Mahindra helped us go live with the Post Paid implementation in 100 days flat. Their deep understanding of the Telecom domain and their flexibility in being able to meet Fastlink’s special needs ensured that we had a very smooth implementation” said Medhat Amer, IT Director, Fastlink. “I always believed that changing the whole billing system just did not make sense when all that Fastlink wanted was flexibility in the ability to launch products fast. So when Tech Mahindra presented to us the option of an Adjunct Rating solution using PriceMaker from RateIntegration we knew we had just the right solution for our needs. PriceMaker offered strong simplicity in use and the domain understanding that Tech Mahindra brought to the project made the whole implementation painless. A solution such as this that involves the Billing System of a Telco is mission critical and Tech Mahindra stood up to the challenge to ensure that it was painless for us and that all of Fastlink’s key requirements were covered in the implementation” said Rafat Nawawi, Technology & Products Development Manager, Marketing Dept., Fastlink. “Given the IT challenge to enable Fastlink for the competitive environment and ability to price next generation voice and data products, Tech Mahindra used its best of breed consultants to arrive at a business case which was compelling enough to adopt an adjunct rating solution. We went ahead to don the best of breed system integrator hat with help from Fastlink IT and excellent user groups from marketing, sales and finance; Tech Mahindra implemented the same in record time ensuring quality and customer satisfaction” said Abhijit Lahiri, Head of BSS Practice, Tech Mahindra. “The PriceMaker Enterprise Pricing Server is a carrier grade rating engine for pre, post and now-paid wireless services. The overall solution that Tech Mahindra deployed at MTC-Fastlink was deployed in record time and will provide MTC-Fastlink with a cost effective way to manage its growth for years to come. This deployment furthers RateIntegration’s position as the leading provider of rating solutions throughout the world and we were thrilled with the deployment,” said Thomas Thekkethala, CEO, RateIntegration Inc.

About Tech Mahindra
Founded in 1988, TECH MAHINDRA is a leading IT services provider to the telecommunications industry. Majority owned by Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s fifth largest commercial group, in partnership with British Telecommunications Plc (BT), Europe’s second largest telecom service provider, Tech Mahindra has grown rapidly to become the 8th largest software exporter in India (NASSCOM). Serving telecom equipment manufacturers, service providers, software vendors and systems integrators, Tech Mahindra’s global customers include Alcatel, Alltel, BT, Convergys, Ericsson, Marconi, O2 and Vodafone. Tech Mahindra’s track-record for value-delivery is supported by over 10,000 professional staff that together provide a unique blend of cultures, deep domain expertise and in-depth technology skill-sets. Fully ISO 9001:2000 certified, Tech Mahindra is also one of the few companies to hold the coveted SEI CMM Level 5 and PCMM Level 5 certification. Tech Mahindra has principal offices in United States, UK, Germany, Singapore, India, Australia, & Middle East -including major development facilities in India, US and UK. More information can be found on the web at www.techmahindra.com

About FastLink
Jordan Mobile Telephone Services Company Ltd. “Fastlink”, founded in 1995, was the first operator to introduce mobile phone services into Jordan. In just a few years, the company earned its reputation as the most progressive telecom operator in the region in terms of competitiveness and readiness to adopt new technologies and deploy cutting-edge services. Since its inception, Fastlink has tallied subscriber growth at an exponential rate, with the number of users currently exceeding 1,400 million subscribers. Through more than 1,700 cell sites, Fastlink covers the entire populated area of the Kingdom. In January 2003, Mobile Telecommunications Company K.S.C. (MTC) acquired Fastlink in what was considered the largest single acquisition in the Middle East area, and the largest private sector investment in Jordan.

About RateIntegration
RateIntegration provides enterprise wide pricing and rating solutions to software, service, and system integration companies developing high performance enterprise applications for use in the telecommunications, media, retail, insurance, and financial services industries. The Company’s flagship PriceMaker(tm) Enterprise Pricing Server product was designed specifically to leverage existing infrastructure software investments by easily integrating with other enterprise applications and data sources. RateIntegration’s customer base includes software and service companies in the United States and Europe including BT Group, TeliaSoneraSergel, Azure Solutions, MTC-Vodafone, Telefonica, and Starhub. RateIntegration has offices in the United States and Europe. More information can be found on the Company’s Web Site at www.rateintegration.com or by contacting +1-720-320-1161.