Aussie OSS developer S2Net to merge with systems integrator, Fastwire

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 23 January 2007 09:40

IT Industry - Strategy

S2Net, an Australian developer of telecoms OSS system, is to merge with Fastwire, an Australian systems integrator specialising in the design, implementation and support of turnkey OSS and network solutions.

The two say that the merger will create a leading telecommunications solution provider focussing on operational support systems (OSS) and network services. The companies, both privately owned have not disclosed whose shareholders will end up controlling the merged entity. A spokeswoman told iTWire that a shareholder meeting had been scheduled for 25 February and the final details would be announced shortly afterwards.

The move comes at a time of rapid consolidation in the global OSS market, most of whose players dwarfed s2net even before being swallowed by even bigger players. Just days ago Indian telecoms software company, Subex Azure, announced plans to acquire Canada's Syndesis Limited, another global provider of telecom OSS, for $US164.5 million in cash, as part of its "drive to become the leading global vendor of telecom OSS solutions."

The merged S2Net/Fastwire business will have OSS customers in Australia, Asia and the United States including Optus, Telstra, Vodafone and SingTel, and network services customers including Optus, Telstra, Hutchison and SPT Com (Soul). It will have a staff of over 100 in offices throughout Asia and Australia, with a global presence through strategic business partnerships.

S2Net CEO, Rene Frei says the merger will result in a company that is strongly positioned to compete in the growing OSS area. "By combining S2Net's strengths in automated services-to-network design with Fastwire's considerable systems integration and OSS technical expertise, we are able to offer service providers globally a superior end-to-end OSS solution."

S2Net is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with regional offices in Asia Pacific, North America and Europe. It presently has as its SI partners, Indian company Infosys (globally) and in the US, Business Edge, appointed in June 2006.