Computerworld

Amcom acquires People Telecom’s WA data business

The sale is designed to enable People Telecom to deliver on its core small-to-medium-enterprise, ADSL and mobiles businesses strategy

NZX and ASX listed telco People Telecom has announced the sale of its Perth corporate data business to Amcom Telecommunications for A$6.25 million (NZ$7.16 million).

The sale is designed to enable People Telecom to deliver on its core small-to-medium-enterprise, ADSL and mobiles businesses strategy, the company said at the sale announcement last week.

People Telecom listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in late 2004, saying almost 10% of its stock was already held by Kiwis and citing its close relationship with CallPlus, especially in VoIP peering.

Last week’s transaction comprises People Telecom’s high-speed optical-fibre data ring around the Perth CBD and a data co-location and interconnect centre as well as customer revenues of A$6 million per annum.

Agreements covering the acquisition were signed in Sydney and Perth by People Telecom and Amcom.

The expected completion date of the transaction is March 31.

People Telecom CEO John Stanton welcomed the the commercial benefits it will generate.

“This transaction aligns to our strategic aims and will allow People Telecom to focus on profitable growth in our core businesses,” Stanton says.

“It will add horsepower to our growth in provision of leading-edge voice and data solutions to SME customers across Australia and the further expansion of our strong ADSL and mobiles businesses at both the retail and wholesale level.”

Stanton stresses the sale does not represent any reduction in People Telecom’s ongoing commitment to its SME and consumer customers in Perth and Western Australia.

“We will continue to serve our SME and consumer customers in Western Australia and push to further grow our market share in those important customer segments,” he says.

“The transaction with Amcom includes supply agreements to ensure that People Telecom has full capability to continue serving SME data requirements.

“The sale of our Perth corporate data business to Amcom will generate stronger operating margins and increased market share within our core customer segments.

“Amcom and People Telecom already enjoy a strong commercial relationship and we see opportunities to further build on this in the future through bilateral supply arrangements and other cooperation.”

Stanton says the two companies will work together over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition of corporate customers onto the Amcom network, and to manage the relocation of its national network operating centre from Perth to Sydney.