African Mobile Operators Spacefon and Spacetel-Benin Choose NMS Commun

    Business Editors/Technology Editors

    FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2005--

    Largest Mobile Operators in Fast-Growing African Markets to Realize ROI in Days, Not Months

    Spacefon, the leading GSM operator in Ghana, and Spacetel-Benin, one of Africa's largest mobile operators, will use NMS Communications' (NASDAQ: NMSS) AccessGate(TM) wireless backhaul optimizer to reduce backhaul expense and bandwidth requirements. Not only will AccessGate (www.nmscommunications.com/solutions/WirelessAccess.html) help Spacefon and Spacetel-Benin significantly reduce backhaul operating expenses, but, equally important, the product will enable them to cost effectively increase capacity in Ghana and Benin, two of Africa's fastest-growing nations.
    Network optimization in fast-growing markets such as Africa is critical, as African GSM networks are growing at an annual rate of 50 percent according to Mobile International Magazine, straining existing satellite and microwave links and causing delays for new service rollouts throughout the continent. With AccessGate, operators such as Spacetel-Benin and Spacefon are able to increase radio coverage and the revenue generated on these links without increasing the operational expense of the link.
    "With more than 40 million wireless subscribers in Africa and an annual growth rate of 50%, we have no choice but to increase capacity of our GSM networks as quickly and economically as possible," said Joseph Helayel, Technical Manager, Spacetel-Benin. "Our goal is to provide the African continent with modern, efficient and cost effective GSM telecommunications services, and NMS' AccessGate network optimizer helps us do just that."
    "NMS has been a terrific partner, working with us quickly to implement a solution to help us meet growth requirements and challenges we faced," said Rajesh Chengta, VSAT Link Director, Spacefon. "As we bring telecommunications service to many who've never had it, we expect it to serve as a catalyst to improve the living conditions of the people in the area."

    About Scancom (Spacefon)

    In December 1995, Scancom was awarded the first national license to operate and maintain a GSM 900 network in the Republic of Ghana. In November 1996 Scancom became the first GSM mobile service provider in the Republic of Ghana under the service name Spacefon, covering all major cities in Ghana--Accra, Tema, Takoradi and Kumasi--as well as the mining areas of Obuasi and Bibiani. Since its launch, Spacefon has grown to become the most dominant mobile phone network in Ghana with active subscribers in excess of 800,000. It also has the widest coverage by far, bridging the digital divide between urban and rural Ghana. Agbozome, Tsito, Dzodze, Peki, Keta and Kibi are the latest additions.
    The company is the exclusive provider of Thuraya satellite-based mobile telephone services in Ghana, and also has roaming agreements with Vodafone and Cellnet of the UK. The company, which has a subsidiary in the UK, is a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Republic of Ghana on April 14, 1994. Scancom is a subsidiary of Investcom Holdings Luxembourg. For more, visit www.spacefon.com.

    About Spacetel-Benin

    Spacetel-Benin is licensed to operate a GSM network in the Republic of Benin with an earth station (VSAT) for national connectivity. Spacetel-Benin started its operation under the service name BeninCell in April 2000. Spacetel-Benin is a subsidiary of Investcom Holding Group, one of the world's fastest growing telecommunications companies. Visit www.investcomholding.com for more information.

    About NMS Communications

    NMS Communications (NASDAQ: NMSS) is a leading provider of technologies and solutions for mobile applications and infrastructure. Visit www.nmscommunications.com for more information.

    Statements in this document expressing the beliefs and expectations of management regarding future performance are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's expectations as of the date of this document and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, a continued slowdown in communications spending, the implementation of the Company's strategic repositioning and market acceptance of the Company's new solutions strategy, quarterly fluctuations in financial results, the Company's ability to exploit fully the value of its technology and its strategic partnerships and alliances, the availability of products from the Company's contract manufacturer and product component vendors and other risks. These and other risks are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. In addition, while management may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, management specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, even if its estimates change. Any reference to our website in this press release is not intended to incorporate the contents thereof into this press release or any other public announcement.

    NMS Communications and AccessGate are trademarks of NMS Communications Corporation. All other product or corporate references may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

--30--MA/bo*

CONTACT: NMS Communications Pam Kukla, 508-271-1611 Pam_Kukla@nmss.com or FitzGerald Communications Christian Potts, 617-585-2231 Cpotts@fitzgerald.com

KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS INTERNATIONAL AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING SOURCE: NMS Communications

Copyright Business Wire 2005