Cedecra Outsources Transactions Data Delivery to TNS in Italy; Cedecra

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors

    RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2005--Transaction Network Services (TNS), Inc., a subsidiary of TNS, Inc. (NYSE:TNS) and a premier network and data communications provider for transaction-oriented applications, today announced that it has entered into a two-year contract with Cedecra Group under which Cedecra will outsource the end-to-end transmission of its transactional data to TNS in Italy.
    The contract supports a move by Cedecra to develop its acquiring capability. It makes the company's subsidiary, Sofinco S.r.l., one of the first financial institutions in the country to move to an Internet Protocol (IP) platform.
    Cedecra Group provides outsourced IT services to 97 regional banks in Italy, generating revenues of 17 million euros per year. Subsidiary Sofinco S.r.l. manages the banks' connectivity into the national interbank network.
    TNS will collect and transport transactions from Cedecra's host, serving 9,000 terminals owned by customers and partners, and route them to processors.
    TNS has worked with the host application vendor to develop a solution based solely in IP. Using a secure connection into TNS' private network, Cedecra can collect and transport credit and debit card transactions in either IP or X.25 from any type of device without retailers or banks needing to change their infrastructure.
    Nino D'Ambrogio, general manager, Cedecra Group, commented: "Partnering with TNS enables Cedecra Group to compete with principal consortia for reliable, cost-effective acquiring and processing. It facilitates Cedecra's move to advanced IP technologies, whilst supporting banking customers' legacy systems."
    Giovanni Miste, sales manager, TNS (Italy), commented: "The solution gives Cedecra and its customers significant advantages in the marketplace. Providing a fast, secure and totally managed service allows banks to focus on developing financial services and Cedecra to focus on acquiring and processing."

    About TNS:

    Transaction Network Services is one of the leading providers of business-critical, cost-effective data communications services for transaction-oriented applications. TNS provides rapid, reliable and secure transaction delivery platforms that enable transaction authorization and processing across several vertical markets and trading communities.
    Since its inception in 1990, TNS has designed and implemented multiple data networks, each designed specifically for the transport of transaction-oriented data. TNS' networks support a variety of widely accepted communications protocols and are designed to be scalable and accessible by multiple methods. TNS' network technologies have been deployed in the United States and internationally, and TNS' networks have become preferred networks servicing the trading community, wireless and wireline carriers, and the card processing and dial-up automated teller machine markets. For further information about TNS' transaction solutions, please refer to www.tnsi.com.

    The statements and information contained in this press release that are not descriptions of historical fact may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond TNS' control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or performance and from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods.

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CONTACT: Transaction Network Services (TNS), Inc. Media Contact: Mike Murphy, 703-453-8550 mmurphy@tnsi.com

KEYWORD: VIRGINIA ITALY INTERNATIONAL EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING SOFTWARE NETWORKING INTERNET E-COMMERCE MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Transaction Network Services (TNS), Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005