"We are increasing our international reach in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where we are supplying services and solutions to developing mobile networks," says Nathan Mayhew, International Business Development Manager, Greenwoods Communications. "Our aim is to enter markets with significant potential for growth where our philosophy of taking costs out will help customers achieve their own business ambitions."

Market statistics suggest that the Asia Pacific carrier investments in telecom infrastructure will grow by nine per cent during 2004, the first annual rise for five years. This growth will be driven by increased spending on next-generation technologies that bring voice and data together on the same network. The region will add around 125 million phone connections across fixed and mobile services, 13 per cent up on 2003. There will be 1.1 billion phone users in the region by the end of 2004.

Advance Communications Systems is a local agent for Greenwoods Communications, reselling stock such as cables, connectors and assemblies to mobile and fixed line operators. It specialises in commissioning and installing base stations for GSM mobile operators.

"We approached Greenwoods because of the vast range of stock that it holds and the wealth of expertise it has in the telecoms industry," said Hector Sarmiento, VP business development, Advance Communication Systems. "We're seeing increasing demand for transmission projects from our operator customers, and working with Greenwoods means we can better serve them."

"Greenwoods is now well established in the UK and Europe, providing a raft of managed services for both fixed line and mobile operators, including test and assembly, commissioning and installation, and full-scale project management," said Nathan Mayhew, International Business Development Manager, Greenwoods Communications. "We now want to build on this foundation and capitalise on developing overseas markets."