STOCKHOLM, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

- Ventelo Awards Ascade With a Contract for the Interconnect Business Platform Carrier Cockpit(TM) - a Complete Solution for Routing Trading

STOCKHOLM, May 19 /PRNewswire/ --

Ascade, the global market-leader in advanced Routing Trading, Billing and Quality of Service solutions for the Interconnect market, today announced that, Ventelo Sweden AB (Ventelo), a Stockholm based wholesale carrier, has decided to implement the Carrier Cockpit(TM) Routing Trading as well as Network Provisioning modules to manage their complete wholesale business. Ventelo has performed a thorough evaluation process resulting in Carrier Cockpit(TM) becoming a central part of its advanced business decision and management environment. The decision to implement Carrier Cockpit(TM) Routing Trading with Network Provisioning is a result of growing volumes of voice traffic, increased business complexity and expectations of improved profitability.

With Ascade's Carrier Cockpit(TM) Routing, Trading and Network Provisioning, Ventelo will further strengthen its end-to-end business process for wholesale and interconnect services by automating its complete wholesale operation. As a result Ventelo can proactively react on new pricing opportunities supported by active trading functionality, secure a superior quality of service through improved operational control and instantly implement routing orders to the switch with the new Network Provisioning.

The Vice President of Ventelo Sweden AB, Mr. Erik Qvist comments: Wholesale Business is one of the key drivers in Ventelo's company strategy and building on a successful carrier business we are now ready to take this operation to the next level. With a fully automated end-to-end support system like Carrier Cockpit(TM) we are looking to excel even more on revenues and margins whilst at the same time guaranteeing accuracy in each step of the way. When choosing a supplier it was important to team up with a reliable company that has proven success in many implementation projects as well as a direct bottom line effect with improved margins, all which we are convinced to have found in Ascade and its solution Carrier Cockpit(TM).

Mr. Klas Peterson, CEO of Ascade contributes: Working with Ventelo and reviewing their aggressive growth plans going forward shows that they are a serious player on the international wholesale arena. By adding an advanced Routing Trading solution to its professional team of traders we are excited to see the effects that are expected to be positive both in a short and long terms perspective. In addition, we are very much looking forward to working with a customer in our own home market.

ABOUT VENTELO SWEDEN AB

Ventelo Sweden AB (Ventelo) is full service provider on the Swedish market offering secure and customer focused turnkey solutions to the business market within fixed, mobile and internet solutions. The company has years of experience in delivering high quality services to mobile and fixed operators and focuses its wholesale offerings on high quality solutions.

Ventelo has been a limited company since 1995 and is owned by private investors.

ABOUT ASCADE AB

Ascade is the global market-leader of Interconnect Solutions for Carriers and Mobile Operators. Our software, Carrier Cockpit(TM) Suite, enables customers worldwide to increase profitability and revenue growth. It optimizes and automates all aspects of the Interconnect Business including route quality testing and integrated interconnect billing, while providing management with real-time business planning and steering capabilities.

Carrier Cockpit(TM) Suite is the most advanced, mature and widely used Interconnect Solution for managing the wholesale business worldwide. Customers include Reach, Telenor Global Services, SingTel, Telekom Malaysia, Etisalat, Allstream, Elisa, Gateway, TEO, Rostelecom, PT Telekom, Korea Telecom, Hrvatski Telekom, Telekom Serbia, Lattelecom, Sunrise, Telekom Austria, MobileOne, TATA, TeliaSonera IC and more.

Ascade AB is a privately held company owned by founders and leading Nordic investment firms CapMan, listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, and SEB Venture Capital, the venture capital division of Nordic financial services group SEB, listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Through its presence in Sweden, US, Dubai, and Singapore, Ascade provides support to its customers worldwide.

For more information please visit: http://www.ascade.com Contact: Patrik Ferlenius, Ascade AB Email: patrik.ferlenius@ascade.com Ascade AB Fax: +46-8-545-90-427 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46-8-616-73-00

Contact: Patrik Ferlenius, Ascade AB, Email: patrik.ferlenius@ascade.com, Ascade AB Fax: +46-8-545-90-427; Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46-8-616-73-00