Colombian-based wireless telecommunications operator Comcel Comunicacion Cellular S.A. (COMCEL) and CGI are pleased to announce the signing of a US$9.1 million systems integration contract. CGI, with support from its partner LHS Group Inc., will act as the system integrator, responsible for the customization and implementation of LHS' BSCS version 5.2 software, to provide COMCEL with a fully integrated billing and customer care system.
"We selected CGI for its track record in fulfilling similar telecommunications integration work around the world, and for the quality of their service and delivery," stated Peter H. Burrowes, COMCEL's President and CEO. "Their experience in integrating systems of this kind, their project management capabilities and ability to deliver on time and on target made them the right choice for supporting us in this project."
"It's a privilege to work with COMCEL, a leader in the Latin American telecommunications industry and the largest cellular company in Colombia. We believe that this project provides us with valuable expertise which positions us well for other similar contracts in Latin America and elsewhere," said Jean Brassard, CGI's President and COO. "We are looking forward to building more partnerships of this kind."
COMCEL's new system is LHS' scalable, modular customer care and billing solution BSCS which supports innovative marketing and pricing for telecommunications services. It will allow COMCEL to enhance its customer service by improving functions in billing and ordering; marketing, promotions and sales; and facilitation. Customers will receive one bill to cover all services supported by the system.
COMCEL S.A. is Colombia's largest cellular provider, operating in Colombia's leading political, commercial and financial centres. Founded in 1994, COMCEL has experienced significant subscriber and revenue growth to more than 700, 000 subscribers, and has captured 55 percent of the market share in Colombia's eastern region, 54 percent in the western region and 48 percent of the entire country. In March 1998, COMCEL merged with OCCEL, another leading Colombian cellular service provider, when COMCEL's largest shareholder, Bell Canada International, bought 68.4 percent of OCCEL's common stock. Its digital technology allows COMCEL to include additional revenues through the sale of digital specific value added cellular services, such as call forwarding, call waiting, three way conference calling and voice mail.
CGI is the largest independent information technology consulting firm in Canada and the sixth largest in North America. It provides end-to-end IT services and business solutions to some 2,000 clients in Canada, the United States and 20 countries around the world. CGI has 8,000 professionals, an annualized revenue-run rate of CDN$1.3 billion and an order backlog totaling approximately CDN$6.7 billion. The company currently has proposals outstanding for an additional $4 billion in potential large contracts. CGI's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (GIB), as well as on the Toronto and Montreal exchanges (GIB.A). They are included in the Toronto Stock Exchange's TSE 300 Composite and TSE 200 indexes. Web site: www.cgi.ca
LHS is a leading global provider of convergent client/server customer care, billing and customer acquisition software and services for the telecommunications industry. Its over 140 systems are installed in some 70 countries, operating in 13 languages. In addition to its Atlanta headquarters, LHS has major offices in Frankfurt, Germany; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Boston and Miami, USA; and Zurich, Switzerland. LHS is listed with NASDAQ (LHSG) and on the Frankfurt Neuer Markt Exchange (LHI).
All statements contained in this or any other press release of CGI Group Inc., or in any document filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in any other written or oral communication by or on behalf of the Company, that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts, constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Report Act of 1995. These statements represent the Company's expectations and beliefs, and no assurance can be given that the results described in such statements will be achieved.
This press release may contain forward looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the outlook for the company's business and results of operations. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Such factors include, without limitation, the various factors set forth in the Company's annual report or Form 40F filed with the SEC and its Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities commissions, which important factors are included here by reference.
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For more information:
COMCEL
John Bartlett
(571) 616-9797 (Colombia)
CGI Group Inc.
Ronald White
Investor and Media Relations
(514) 841-3230
ronald.white@cgi.ca
LHS Group Inc.
Klaus Kleber (770) 280-3461 (USA)
kkleber@us.lhsgroup.com
Andrea Willige +49 (0) 6103 482 777 (Europe)
awillige@de.lhsgroup.com
