Network expansion increases capacity tenfold in preparation for the expected 
surge in mobile roaming traffic

BICS[https://bics.com/], a leading international communications enabler, has 
today announced a major upgrade and expansion of its backbone in Japan, 
increasing capacity tenfold to support growing demand for roaming and IP-based 
services such as remote peering, cloud connect and carrier ethernet. The move 
comes ahead of increasing numbers of domestic and international mobile 
subscribers travelling in and out of Japan expected in 2020 and follows growing 
demand for guaranteed high capacity connectivity between the APAC territory and 
the rest of the world.

The expansion includes the deployment of a second point-of-presence (PoP) in 
Tokyo, which connects to the local internet exchange points for BICS' IP-based 
services. This will ensure reduced latency, improving end-to-end quality while 
directly connecting local customers to BICS' global network infrastructure. The 
PoP deployment also minimises the cost for BICS' customers by optimising 
connectivity within the region.

BICS has also extended its existing network infrastructure in the region with a 
new route from Hong Kong to Japan, and from Japan to LA, resulting in a tenfold 
increase in connectivity and significantly reducing latency.

"Japan is one of several territories in Asia which is leading the deployment of 
5G and growing its Internet of Things ecosystem. This development requires 
reliable, high-quality and low-latency connectivity, and services which can 
support large increase in the cellular traffic and number of devices," 
commented Malcolm Chan, MD, Asia Pacific, BICS. "Expanding our backbone in the 
region was therefore an important step to meet future demands, especially in 
light of the number of visitors expected to travel to Japan next year for the 
Tokyo Games."

"Connecting nations like Japan - which is only accessible via submarine systems 
- with the rest of the world remains a challenge especially in terms of 
capacity, cost and quality. Due to BICS' active footprint in the APAC region 
and global infrastructure, we've been able to upgrade capacity and connectivity 
in Japan and offer higher quality services at competitive prices. With the 
service now live, benefits are already being recognized by operators, 
subscribers and IoT businesses - all of which can feel confident that our 
global network will support their future connectivity needs too," added Chan.

About BICS

As a leading international communications enabler, BICS is connecting the world 
by creating reliable and secure mobile experiences anytime, anywhere. We are a 
global voice carrier and the leading provider of mobile data services 
worldwide. Our solutions are essential for supporting the modern lifestyle of 
today's device-hungry consumer - from global mobile connectivity, seamless 
roaming experiences, fraud prevention and authentication, to global messaging 
and the Internet of Things. We are headquartered in Brussels, with a strong 
presence in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Middle East.

For more information visit www.bics.com and follow our tweets 
@BICS_SA[http://twitter.com/BICS_SA]

SOURCE BICS