Ceragon Posts Better Earnings, Bags Backhaul Provider of the Year

Buoyed by the strong contributions of its Nigerian and African operations, Ceragon Networks Ltd has reported a 17 per cent increase in revenues for the first quarter of the current financial year and the management is happy about the result.

The announcement is coming on the heels of the bestowment of “Backhaul Provider of the Year” to Ceragon Networks Nigeria for its innovative, flexible and cost-effective wireless backhaul solutions that enable mobile operators and other wired/wireless service providers to deliver superior services to their subscribers.

This year’s award night drew top government functionaries and chieftains of ICT and financial industry including His Excellency, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, deputy-president of the Senate, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, former executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, president, Teledom Group, Mr. Mohammed Rudman, MD/CEO, Nigeria Internet Exchange Point, Jean-Luc Fort, CEO, OR Systems, France among others.

The result and the award underscore Ceragon’s commitment to serving the market with unmatched technology and innovation, ensuring effective solutions for the evolving needs of the marketplace.

According to a release by the company, revenues for the first quarter of 2012 reached $117.8 million, up 17% from $100.3 million for the first quarter of 2011, the first quarter of combined revenues following the acquisition of Nera Networks, and down 1% from $118.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

.“Strength in Africa and Latin America drove revenues in Q1 as expected,” said Ira Palti, President and CEO of Ceragon.

 “We remain on track to continue improving gross margin in the second half of 2012 after extending our design-to-cost capabilities to the long haul product. We believe that we will meet our expectations and exit 2012 with a revenue run rate of around $130 million per quarter with gross margin in the mid 30’s and a non-GAAP operating margin of around 8%.” continued Mr. Palti.

Locally, Ceragon Networks has been honoured with the Beacon of ICT (BoICT) award as the “Backhaul Provider of the Year” by Nigeria CommunicatonsWeek in recognition of its broad portfolio of innovative, field-proven, high capacity wireless backhaul solutions.

Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-chief, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek said that Ceragon Networks Nigeria was chosen for proving an instant success in enabling service providers deliver voice and premium data services.

He said that Ceragon’s solutions help to eliminate backhaul bottlenecks and significantly reduce backhaul costs while facilitating the transition to next generation IP-based networks.

Ceragon Networks is the world’s leading wireless backhaul specialist after the merger with Nera of Norway.

Responding, Bekele Tadesse, Nigeria managing director of Ceragon Networks thanked the organizers of the awards adding that Ceragon is the ideal partner for service providers.

 “ With years of proven field experience Ceragon has the stability, resources, install base, and global reach of a big supplier; and the flexibility, agility and responsiveness of a specialist; Ceragon is your perfect partner” he added.

The Beacon of ICT Awards is an annual industry wide celebration recognizes deserving talents, contributions and commitments to the growth of the ICT industry.

The merit- centric celebration honours finest and brightest companies and individuals like you who have helped put Nigeria on the global ICT map.