Qtel signs deal to improve internet services
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Qatari and Indian telecom groups Qtel and Reliance Globalcom struck a deal on Tuesday aimed at improving internet and phone services in the Gulf, which have been severely disrupted in the last week.
The two companies have signed a strategic agreement, benefiting international and Qatar-based clients by providing telecom networks that can cope with a higher volume of voice, data and video applications.
“The new agreement has been designed to introduce greater redundancy in the network and increase the traffic capacity of voice and internet networks, to help reduce the impact of events like the recent breach of internet sub-cables, which caused regional disruption to internet and voice services,” Reliance said in a statement on Tuesday.
“By positioning Qatar as a hub on this cable system, customers in Qatar and neighbouring countries could be less exposed to the impact of cable breaks in the future,” the statement added.
The Gulf has been experiencing internet problems since the start of last week, after three undersea cables which link Europe and the Middle East were damaged in the Mediterranean off Italy.
Technicians are currently fixing the problem, which is expected to be resolved tomorrow.
Reliance Globalcom, a division of the Indian telecoms behemoth Reliance Communications, owns the world’s largest private undersea cable system, spanning 65,000 kilometres and connecting key markets in India, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the US, including its FLAG Europe-Asia cable.
Qtel, a fixed and mobile telecoms provider, operates in 17 countries and is looking to expand across the Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia.
READERS' COMMENTS
MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM
TOP IN MIDDLE EAST TECHNOLOGY
TOP MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS STORIES
ALSO IN MIDDLE EAST TECHNOLOGY
LATEST MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS NEWS
- Banking & Finance: Dubai gov't repays $1bn aviation bond
- Personal Finance: Credit bureaus combine to form regional group
- Healthcare: Kuwait swine flu fatalities rise to 24
- Politics & Economics: Mideast needs to improve insolvency rules - World Bank
- Travel & Hospitality: ADNH sees net profit up by 28% but hotels suffer
SHARE PRICE CHECK
RELATED STORIES
Qatar Telecom
- Steady operator
13 Oct '09 | Interviews - Qtel completes $2bn loan deal
29 Sep '09 | News - Qtel confirms interest in Morocco's Meditel
30 Aug '09 | News




