HP'S Real-Time SS7-Monitoring System Installed by Leading Asia-Pacific Mobile-Phone Operator; System Expected to Help Vodafone Australia improve its Quality of Service

Business Wire, March 3, 1997

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 1997--Hewlett-Packard Company today announces it has delivered its HP acceSS7 network monitoring system to Vodafone Australia. The HP system is being installed to help Vodafone monitor and trouble-shoot its network from a central location and to provide early warning of potential network problems -- before they affect customer services. The announcement was made here at the Wireless '97 show, which runs from March 3 to 5.

"SS7 expertise is a scarce and valuable resource," said Athula Biyanwila, network-infrastructure service manager for Vodafone. "The HP system will help us to increase our productivity and help to reduce our maintenance costs. The capability to trouble-shoot and resolve complex network problems remotely will allow us to provide our customers with a superior quality of service."

According to Biyanwila, HP's considerable expertise in network engineering, network management and its technical competency in GSM all were key factors in Vodafone's decision to go with the HP solution. "These factors, coupled with HP's reputation for delivering exceptional post-sales support and consultancy, make it a win-win for both companies," he said.

"Mobile operators worldwide have a number of major business challenges," said Andy Belcher, general manager of HP's Telecommunications Systems Division. "They need to attract and retain subscribers, reduce operating costs and, at the same time, maintain a high quality of service. HP is uniquely positioned to work with mobile operators and provide solutions designed to help them meet these challenges."

Vodafone Australia is a leading GSM mobile operator in Australia with approximately 220,000 subscribers. The company says it provides mobile coverage to 80 percent of the Australian population. Vodafone Australia is an operating subsidiary of Vodafone Group PLC.

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 112,800 employees and had revenue of $38.4 billion in its 1996 fiscal year.

Information about products from HP's Test and Measurement Organization can be obtained on the World Wide Web via http://www.hp.com/go/tmnews .

CONTACT: HP

Jim Black, 44-131-331-7043

jim-tsd_black@hp.com

John McCreadie, 408/553-7342

dearjohn@sc.hp.com