Mobile network operators can now offer their customers Wi-Fi® calling, messaging and Internet access – both at home and abroad

SINGAPORE, 4 July 2016 – Tata Communications, a leading provider of A New World of
Communications™, launches Wi-Fi+, a new Wi-Fi® cloud communication
solution, which enables mobile network operators’ customers to access the
internet for calling, messaging, and data applications more seamlessly than
ever. Through access to more than 21 million Wi-Fi® hotspots
globally, the new solution allows mobile network operators (MNOs) to offer
their customers a high-quality mobile experience – whether at home or abroad –
and generate additional revenues from Wi-Fi® services.

Costing just a few dollars per month per user to mobile network
operators, Wi-Fi+ enables mobile network operators to bring their customers
unlimited calling, messaging and data over high-quality, secure Wi-Fi®.
It harnesses Tata Communications’ Cloud RTC expertise and iPass’s more than 21
million Wi-Fi® hotspots in more than 100 countries, creating a
huge meshed network of borderless, global connectivity. It requires users to
log in just once – after this, they are automatically connected to the closest
participating Wi-Fi® hotspot, even if they travel to a
different city, country or continent.

Today, MNOs are losing roaming revenues from silent roamers, with around
half choosing to cut down on making calls (53%) sending texts (43%) and using
data (45%)[1] abroad for
fear of bill shock. Video calling is also growing in popularity amongst younger
generations, with approximately a third (30%) of teenagers in Brazil, India,
Japan, South Korea, the UK and the US now making video calls on a daily basis[2].  And, while
twice as many smartphone users make voice calls indoors than outdoors, the lack
of indoor cellular coverage means that only a third of users are happy with
their voice call quality and reliability[3].

Wi-Fi+ enables MNOs to offer their customers access to high quality
Wi-Fi® connectivity with no upfront investment, whilst at the
same time growing their revenues through extended OTT services, including Wi-Fi® calling
and messaging.

“Wi-Fi+ marks the next step on our mission to enable truly seamless
mobile communications on a global scale,” says Christian Michaud, Senior Vice
President of Strategy, Product and Business Development at Tata Communications’
Service Provider Group. “To date, the high cost of mobile data has put people
off from using high-bandwidth applications such as video calling and music
streaming services while on the move. And when travelling abroad, many users
avoid making calls and texting too – resulting in lost revenues for MNOs. Our
new solution tackles this issue head-on. It opens up new revenue streams for
MNOs without CAPEX investment, and allows users to keep in touch through voice,
messaging and video, or even stream music – without fear of bill shock, both at
home and abroad.”