Third annual Request Professional Partner Forum attracts 150 Request Partners
Announcement posted by Request Broadband 12 Feb 2004
Announces value of PowerTel acquisition to Request Partners
Request Broadband Pty Ltd (Request), a leading Australian IP broadband services provider, concluded its successful third annual Request Professional Partner Forum last Friday, 6 February, having attracted over 150 attendees to the Gold Coast event.
Request has committed to enhancing its Partner development program this year as part of its plans to double its business broadband service connections to 28,000 and strives to lead the SME IP networking market.
The Forum offered an opportunity for Request and PowerTel senior executives (poised to acquire Request in the next two weeks after receiving final shareholder approval) to expound on the value the new, larger entity will deliver to its partner community. There will be greater economies of scale flowing through to Request Partners to enhance our combined competitiveness, said Phil Sykes, Request CEO. We will also have a more concentrated investment in network reach and product innovation, all focussed on the business market.
PowerTel CEO, Shane Allan, added, PowerTel recognises the effectiveness and depth of relationships that have been established between Request and its Partners and we intend to continue to support and further enhance the Partner model which so effectively addresses the increasingly important IP broadband networking business market.
The Forums comprehensive program included a keynote address from Dr Roslyn Kelleher, Senior Executive Manager, Australian Communications Authority (ACA), focusing on the criticality of the regulatory environment for those involved in the telecommunications industry with specific reference to ongoing broadband monitoring in Australia. Awareness by all in our industry that we must work within and contribute to the development of a regulatory framework is essential for business growth, especially as we increasingly converge voice and data, said Sykes.
Additional papers addressed the changing playing field of VPN technology, key market, business and technology trends, security challenges in the IP connected world and the transition to packetised voice.
Request announced key milestones at the Partner Forum. These included:
The company has maintained an EBITDA positive position since March 2003
A customer base increase of 82% during 2003 totaling 14,000 business customers by end February 2004
Average of 99.95% network availability highest in the industry
33 new exchanges under construction
Proven VPN leadership with:
- 80% of sales made up of VPN and symmetric products
- over 30 new VPNs implemented monthly
It is in the VPN arena where Request has a genuine niche, said Sykes. With over 500 business VPN networks reaching more than 3,300 business sites, we believe we may have the greatest number of VPN sites amongst all the carriers.
Successful Request Partners, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to the provision of broadband services to SME customers, were also recognised. Scott Carter, Director of Sales at Request, announced the companys second Platinum partner (Techex Communications) and the eighteenth Gold partner (Securetel). One of the Forum highlights was the Gala Dinner incorporating Partner Awards. Macquarie Corporate Communications was announced Carrier of the Year 2003, Professional Partner of the Year 2003 went to Activ and Melbourne-based Broadband Direct won the inaugural Customer Service Excellence Award.
ATUG Managing Director, Rosemary Sinclair, addressed the Gala Dinner guests finishing with the challenging words that the killer app is convenience. Leigh Matthews, Brisbane Lions coach, provided a stirring address on the challenges of managing demanding environments in this case both the competitive and human complexities of an elite sporting environment. Requests inaugural charity auction raised a commendable $20,000 for the SIDS for kids charity organisation.
About Request
Request is an infrastructure-based IP networking broadband applications and services company delivering flexible and innovative broadband solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout Australia. Requests broadband services are sold in all capital cities and major regional centres through over 160 Request Service Providers.
Delivering on the need for multi-site customer networking Request's Next Generation broadband IP Network architecture specifically supports business evolution to high performance IP-centric internet and e-business applications. Core products include RequestVPN, RequestXpress and RequestSoHo.
In choosing Request, companies are able to quickly and cost effectively establish high-speed internet access, private networks between multiple office locations, voice over IP, video over IP, remote access to corporate networks over the same broadband link without the need for additional infrastructure.
September 2003 saw the company win the ATUG Telecommunications 2003 award for Excellence in Telecommunications. In August 2003, Request achieved the highly prestigious CommsWorld Telecomms 2003 industry award for Broadband Wholesale Carrier of the Year. Other awards include the 2003 ATUG Industry award for Best Communications Solution - SME for its RequestVPN solution and Carrier of the Year 2002 ATUG award.
Request investors include, among others, Telecom Venture Group (TVG) and Pilbara Mines. For more information on Request, visit www.request.com.au.
Request has committed to enhancing its Partner development program this year as part of its plans to double its business broadband service connections to 28,000 and strives to lead the SME IP networking market.
The Forum offered an opportunity for Request and PowerTel senior executives (poised to acquire Request in the next two weeks after receiving final shareholder approval) to expound on the value the new, larger entity will deliver to its partner community. There will be greater economies of scale flowing through to Request Partners to enhance our combined competitiveness, said Phil Sykes, Request CEO. We will also have a more concentrated investment in network reach and product innovation, all focussed on the business market.
PowerTel CEO, Shane Allan, added, PowerTel recognises the effectiveness and depth of relationships that have been established between Request and its Partners and we intend to continue to support and further enhance the Partner model which so effectively addresses the increasingly important IP broadband networking business market.
The Forums comprehensive program included a keynote address from Dr Roslyn Kelleher, Senior Executive Manager, Australian Communications Authority (ACA), focusing on the criticality of the regulatory environment for those involved in the telecommunications industry with specific reference to ongoing broadband monitoring in Australia. Awareness by all in our industry that we must work within and contribute to the development of a regulatory framework is essential for business growth, especially as we increasingly converge voice and data, said Sykes.
Additional papers addressed the changing playing field of VPN technology, key market, business and technology trends, security challenges in the IP connected world and the transition to packetised voice.
Request announced key milestones at the Partner Forum. These included:
The company has maintained an EBITDA positive position since March 2003
A customer base increase of 82% during 2003 totaling 14,000 business customers by end February 2004
Average of 99.95% network availability highest in the industry
33 new exchanges under construction
Proven VPN leadership with:
- 80% of sales made up of VPN and symmetric products
- over 30 new VPNs implemented monthly
It is in the VPN arena where Request has a genuine niche, said Sykes. With over 500 business VPN networks reaching more than 3,300 business sites, we believe we may have the greatest number of VPN sites amongst all the carriers.
Successful Request Partners, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to the provision of broadband services to SME customers, were also recognised. Scott Carter, Director of Sales at Request, announced the companys second Platinum partner (Techex Communications) and the eighteenth Gold partner (Securetel). One of the Forum highlights was the Gala Dinner incorporating Partner Awards. Macquarie Corporate Communications was announced Carrier of the Year 2003, Professional Partner of the Year 2003 went to Activ and Melbourne-based Broadband Direct won the inaugural Customer Service Excellence Award.
ATUG Managing Director, Rosemary Sinclair, addressed the Gala Dinner guests finishing with the challenging words that the killer app is convenience. Leigh Matthews, Brisbane Lions coach, provided a stirring address on the challenges of managing demanding environments in this case both the competitive and human complexities of an elite sporting environment. Requests inaugural charity auction raised a commendable $20,000 for the SIDS for kids charity organisation.
About Request
Request is an infrastructure-based IP networking broadband applications and services company delivering flexible and innovative broadband solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) throughout Australia. Requests broadband services are sold in all capital cities and major regional centres through over 160 Request Service Providers.
Delivering on the need for multi-site customer networking Request's Next Generation broadband IP Network architecture specifically supports business evolution to high performance IP-centric internet and e-business applications. Core products include RequestVPN, RequestXpress and RequestSoHo.
In choosing Request, companies are able to quickly and cost effectively establish high-speed internet access, private networks between multiple office locations, voice over IP, video over IP, remote access to corporate networks over the same broadband link without the need for additional infrastructure.
September 2003 saw the company win the ATUG Telecommunications 2003 award for Excellence in Telecommunications. In August 2003, Request achieved the highly prestigious CommsWorld Telecomms 2003 industry award for Broadband Wholesale Carrier of the Year. Other awards include the 2003 ATUG Industry award for Best Communications Solution - SME for its RequestVPN solution and Carrier of the Year 2002 ATUG award.
Request investors include, among others, Telecom Venture Group (TVG) and Pilbara Mines. For more information on Request, visit www.request.com.au.