ASIA NETCOM TO PROVIDE GATEWAY INTO CHINA FOR NEXAGENTS CARRIER AND SYSTEM INTEGRATOR CUSTOMERS

Asia Netcom joins Nexagents Carrier Supplier Co-Marketing Programme, facilitating direct connections to its extensive Asia-wide infrastructure from Europe

London UK, 25 July 2005 – Nexagent, the market leader in centralised management software and hardware for interconnecting next-generation telecom networks, today announced that Asia Netcom, a leading Asia-based telecommunications carrier owned by China Netcom, a publicly-listed (NYSE:CN, SEHK:0906) incumbent telecommunications operator in the People’s Republic of China, has signed up to its Carrier Supplier Co-Marketing Programme. This brings the number of participating carriers in the programme to 15.

As a result, Asia Netcom will be able to supply MPLS-based IP VPN to Nexagent’s customers as components of multi-carrier MPLS-VPNs. Nexagent customers are solution providers that are either; systems integrators managing multi-carrier IP VPNs for their enterprise customers, or carriers wishing to extend the geographic reach of, or provide wholesale access to their own MPLS-VPN service footprint. Asia Netcom will benefit immediately from being promoted to Nexagent’s global network of prospects and customers through a wide spectrum of joint sales and marketing initiatives.

The Chinese and Asian markets are very attractive for many of Nexagent’s carrier and systems integrator customers. However, due to strict regulations governing telecommunications, it can be difficult for non-Chinese companies to gain access to telecoms infrastructure within China. For these companies, Asia Netcom can now offer a gateway into China and the rest of Asia by providing city-to-city connectivity and data communications solutions throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Nexagent is the pioneer and market leader in centralised management software and hardware for interconnecting next-generation telecom networks. Based on open standards and offering a component-based approach, Nexagent’s software and hardware enables carriers and systems integrators to automate and accelerate the creation, provisioning and management of advanced IP services over multiple carrier networks. As well as dramatically reducing time-to-market for new services, Nexagent’s customers benefit from increased operational efficiencies, improved productivity and greater service performance – all key to remaining competitive in a crowded marketplace.

Charlie Muirhead, founder and president , Nexagent, said: “The Asian market represents a huge business opportunity for systems integrators and carriers. Customers that have licensed our technology will be able to leverage our relationship with Asia Netcom and gain a foothold in a market without having to build their own extensive infrastructure and capabilities in this territory. In return, Asia Netcom can expect to benefit from valuable new revenue streams from contributing to our customers’ multi-carrier networks and services.”

Gina Haspilaire, Asia Netcom’s Managing Director for North America and Europe said: “ Nexagent’s technology and Carrier Supplier Co-Marketing Programme is an exciting opportunity for us to attract new wholesale revenue from carriers and systems integrators outside of our geographical focus. The immediate benefit of being actively marketed to Nexagent’s prospects and customers is highly attractive as it will help us to realise new revenues quickly without the need to incur additional budget or resources.”

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About Nexagent

Nexagent is the pioneer and market leader in centralised management software and hardware for interconnecting next-generation telecom networks. Based on open standards and offering a component based approach, Nexagents software and hardware enables carriers and systems integrators to automate and accelerate the creation, provisioning and management of advanced IP services over multiple carrier networks. As well as dramatically reducing time-to-market for new services, Nexagents customers benefit from increased operational efficiencies, improved productivity and greater service performance all key to remaining competitive in a crowded marketplace. For more information, visit Nexagents website at: www.nexagent.com

About Asia Netcom

Asia Netcom is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Netcom (NYSE:CN, SEHK: 0906), an incumbent telecommunications service provider in China. Asia Netcom operates an extensive telecommunications network infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region, including a privately-owned subsea cable system, EAC, as well as extensive terrestrial backhauls and telehouses in all key Asian markets. Leveraging these strategic assets, Asia Netcom provides a comprehensive portfolio of city-to-city connectivity, data communications and IP-based solutions and services to enterprise, ISP and carrier customers in the Asia Pacific region. The company is headquartered in Hong Kong with local offices in all major Asian markets, the US and Europe. For more information, please visit our Website at: www.asianetcom.com

Contacts

For Nexagent:

Kate Ainsworth
Email: kate.ainsworth@b1.com
Tel: + 44 (0) 207 349 2324

For Asia Netcom:

Lorain Wong
Email: lorain.wong@asianetcom.com
Tel: + 852 2121 2973