StarHub's Latest Bilateral Agreement With China Telecom Extends Its Global Connectivity Reach

Singapore, 10 January 2000 -- StarHub, Singapore’s new info-communications company, has recently concluded a bilateral international telecommunications services agreement with China Telecom, the largest telecommunications operator in China. This new alliance will enable both partners a platform to serve the rising demand for voice and data traffic between Singapore and China. The bilateral agreement was recently signed by Mr Terry Clontz, President and CEO of StarHub, and Mr Han Song-Lin, Deputy Director-General of China Telecom in Beijing.

StarHub’s bilateral agreement with China Telecom will allow customers of both carriers direct communication links between the two countries. Singapore’s total outgoing volume traffic to China is estimated to be growing at an average rate of 20% per annum. This robust growth rate is expected to continue in coming years given the healthy economic investment and bilateral trade between the two countries. Likewise, Singapore is ranked as the seventh largest route for China’s outgoing traffic according to TeleGeography’s 1999 report.

This recent strategic alliance brings the total number of bilateral agreements established by StarHub to 16 international carriers across 12 countries, including those in the United States, the United Kingdom and Asia-Pacific regions.

Mr Terry Clontz said, "StarHub’s customers in Singapore have another quality choice of communication access to China, and we will continue to work closely with China Telecom to develop more international products and services."

StarHub aims to establish direct links to more than 50 world-class carriers over the next few years and these direct routes are expected to carry up to 90% of StarHub’s international voice and data traffic. By commercial launch on 1 April 2000, StarHub aims to offer IDD services to more than 230 countries.

"We believe that StarHub has an important role to play in strengthening Singapore’s competitive edge to be a regional info-communications hub. Together with our world-class portfolio of global managed information business services such as Arcstar and Concert, StarHub has a lot to offer MNCs who use Singapore as their regional center of gravity," added Mr Clontz.