TORONTO, Jan. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BT Group, the UK’s leading fixed and mobile telecommunications provider, has extended its strategic partnership with Optiva (TSX: OPT) to develop and monetize new B2B, B2C and B2B2X services. Optiva’s application server, a key component of the Optiva Charging Engine, will be upgraded to a next-generation, cloud-native, open architecture service creation platform. It will include Optiva’s Open API framework, enabling integration with new cutting-edge technology partners, including blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) tools, fostering the growth of new services and new revenue opportunities.

BT Group plans to achieve greater than 90% penetration of 5G network coverage by 2028. To support these goals, BT Group needs a fully flexible service creation environment that enables rapid design, testing and deployment of new services. Additionally, it needs support for new partnerships in a wide variety of industries, such as banking, health care and insurance, and the ability to proactively address new challenges like fraud.

Optiva’s application server will enable BT Group to create the new services by leveraging an automated development framework powered by Optiva’s proven test automation platform, improving time to market and reducing operational overhead.

"Optiva has been a strategic partner for over a decade, enabling us to continuously innovate and meet our business goals. The next-generation Optiva application server will allow us to integrate with cutting-edge technology partners and build innovative new services for consumers and enterprises," said Nitin Patel, Head of Mobile and Messaging of BT.

"BT's application server upgrade will provide it with increased power to innovate, integrate and capitalize on emerging technologies, including blockchain and AI tools. It will also expose more network services to support new offerings. We value BT's trust and are committed to further empowering BT to capture new market opportunities, achieve its goals and expand its business success," said Robert Stabile, CEO of Optiva.

About BT Group
BT Group is the UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions and services. We also provide managed telecommunications, security and network & IT infrastructure services to customers across 180 countries.

BT Group consists of three customer-facing units: Consumer serves individuals and families in the UK; Business covers companies and public services in the UK and internationally; Openreach is an independently governed, wholly owned subsidiary wholesaling fixed access infrastructure services to its customers - over 650 communications providers across the UK.

British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/about.

About Optiva Inc.
Optiva Inc. is a leading provider of mission-critical, cloud-native revenue management software for the telecommunications industry. Its products are delivered globally on the private and public cloud. The Company’s solutions help service providers maximize digital, 5G, IoT and emerging market opportunities to achieve business success. Established in 1999, Optiva Inc. is on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:OPT). For more information, visit www.optiva.com.

For additional information, please contact:

Media: Misann Ellmaker, media@optiva.com

Investor Relations: Ali Mahdavi, investors-relations@optiva.com