mBlox gains Asian foothold

MBlox is taking over Spanish content provider LaNetro Zed's content delivery operations in Southeast Asia and in the process gaining a network operations center that in Singapore will allow the mobile transaction broker to extend its business into the fast-growing Southeast Asian market.

Though financial terms of the agreement weren't disclosed, mBlox will take possession of the Singapore NOC, adding its 11 employees and gaining its first presence in Asia. In turn, mBlox will host LaNetro Zed's premium SMS delivery and carrier interconnection operations in Malaysia and the Philippines.

MBlox officials said the deal greatly expands the aggregator's scope, giving it its first foothold into Asia, which it plans to expand into Asia overall. Currently mBlox major market operations lie on both sides of the Atlantic in the U.S. and Europe, but CEO Andrew Budd said mBlox has been looking for strategic acquisitions and partnerships that will allow it to grow its global footprint. Budd added that mBlox has been eyeing southeast Asia for sometime, not only as a possible jumping point to the rest of Asia, but also because it is a high-growth region in its own right. The LaNetro tie-up presented mBlox with the perfect opportunity, he said.

"Even prior to this agreement we have been handling LaNetro Zed's traffic in other parts of the world," Budd said. "I think that's why they felt comfortable with us."