UK
Asian Voice - Saturday 30th July 2011
11
Lycamobile celebrates its 5th birthday with pomp and gaiety Lycamobile, the largest global provider of low cost international mobile calls to immigrant communities, on Thursday 21st July celebrated its 5th birthday with Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. To which Mr Johnson said, “I am delighted to be here today to help celebrate Lycamobile’s fifth anniversary. This young company, with its headquarters in the heart of Docklands, is just like the capital's economy – international, dynamic, successful and growing. I wish it every success in the years to come.’ With much wit and humour he added, "This is the first good news story about mobile phone after a long time. Lyca appoints 600 people in London
Subaskaran Allirajah (chairman), Boris Johnson, Milind Kangle, Premananthan Sivasamy, Chris Tooley, Mohammed Malique, Michael Landau
Chairman of Lycamobile, and himself an immigrant to the UK in 2000 commented, “The UK, and particularly London, with its many diverse communities and global vision, is
have been part of Lycamobile’s very exciting journey over the last 5 years..." He spoke about their vision since 2006- to be the world’s biggest MVNO serving the needs of ethnic and global immigrant customers who want the convenience of staying in touch with their near and dear ones from their mobile phones. He further added, "I am delighted to confirm that we have achieved some spectacular milestones:Lycamobile oper-
Premananthan Sivasamy, Milind Kangle, Boris Johnson, Subaskaran ates in 14 countries, Allirajah
alone. Has half a million new subscribers. This is incredible. This is a fantastic service. Next year we have an opportunity to do a great thing. We are getting ready for the Olympics. When the world comes to London there will be athletes who will have a home crowd of supporters of more than 10,000 people from 50 countries already here waiting to cheer for
the natural location for Lycamobile’s head office. I am very proud of the spectacular growth that Lycamobile has achieved in its first 5 years and honoured that Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, is here today to help us celebrate this important milestone.” Lycamobile has sustained its growth by continually investing in people, process, technology
employs over 4000 staff members, completes over 10 million calls per day and has acquired over 14 million subscribers in the past five years. We have relationships with over 250 global telecommunication companies, Lycamobile product are available in over half a million retail points of sale and Every 5 seconds a new customer joins the
LtoR: Milind Kangle, Sharula Milind, Premananthan Sivasamy, Globeman, Prema Subas, Subaskaran Allirajah, Gnanam Allirajah
their respective countries. Lyca is and will be helping those people to connect with their home, send funny photographs as they enjoy the Olympics park and much more." Subaskaran Allirajah,
and brand to deliver superior quality services to its customers. Milind Kangle, CEO, Lycamobile said, "This is a very special day for our staff, our customers and our business partners who
Lycamobile family." Mr Kangle also mentioned that the achievement of Lycamobile is a testament to the remarkable talents that they have within the organisation. It was an honour to see the
ice center serves over 20,000 customer calls per day. In today’s competitive world and tough financial environment now is not the time to rest on our laurels – and at Lycamobile we will never rest. The Chairman and I have already set the next challenge for Lycamobile and the Lycatel Group – to be the global leader in providing Telecommunications, Financial Services, Travel and Entertainment products and services to the international ethnic community.” Talking about the target Lycamobile has set for
utes to Subas's mother , who has set up the Gnaman foundation to support charitable causes. He also thanked Boris Johnson for attending Lyca's 5th birthday and explained how happy and rewarding it was to have achieved so much in 5 years and he was hopeful that the next 5 years will be more exciting, more rewarding and take Lyca to greater and unimaginable heights. Lycamobile launched in July 2006 and has expanded its service to 14 countries by the summer of 2011. Lycamobile is headquartered in London
CEO attributing so much of their success to the team members. It was indeed very humble of him also to remember the past and the root of their business as he added, "..We should not forget where the Lycamobile success came from. I am referring to the Lycatel Calling Card business. Again the vision, ambition and drive of our Chairman since 2003 propelled the Lycatel brand to global brand leadership by revenue in 2008. The success of Premananthan Sivasamy,Milind Kangle, Boris Johnson, the Lycatel business Subaskaran Allirajah provided the secure Docklands from where a the future, Milind said, business foundation on staff of 600 supports the "Lycamobile will continue which to build the global operations. to expand into more counLycamobile business. L y c a m o b i l e tries and extend its market I would also like to (www.lycamobile.co.uk) is leadership; Lycafly, our emphasise that we see travel business, is growing a prepaid mobile SIM card London, with its many rapidly and already conthat provides low-cost, diverse communities and nected to over 20 airlines. high-quality international global vision as the natural 2011 has already witand national calls to over location for Lycamobile’s nessed Lycamoney, our 6.5 million customers head office. We have over prepaid credit card, is inteacross 14 countries (UK, 600 staff in this office and grated with our Netherlands, Belgium, other offices in London Lycamobile service to give Switzerland, Denmark, supporting our global our customers extra Norway, Sweden, Italy, operations – and today I topup credits when they Spain, Australia, France, am delighted to announce top-up with the Germany, Poland and that we will be supporting Lycamoney card; sends Ireland). Lycamobile is the Mayor’s apprenticeinstant balance updates – already distributed ship initiative by recruita unique product in the through a European neting a number of apprentices into Lycamobile. Our sustained growth is driven by the unique strength of the Lycamobile business model – some serious key capabilities in people, process, smart technology, a benchmark full MVNO model giving us complete control of the cus- Mayor of London- Boris Johnson, greeting the Lycamobile staff in tomer experience, the their office have been develfinancial services sector work of more than oped with a sustained and we will welcome more 500,000 retail outlets. The investment program of brand was initially introhard working professionwell over 150 million duced in The Netherlands als into the Lycamobile pounds. family. Our operations in in 2006 and is already Our investments in our Docklands will expand – Europe’s largest pre-pay brand, including Lycamobile will be helping MVNO. Lycamobile con'Globeman', are helping us to drive growth in 2012 tinues to grow rapidly add over half a million London economy." with further market subscribers per month and Mr Kangle in his conlaunches planned throughour 24 by 7 customer servcluding speech paid tribout 2011 and 2012.