Qtel and Reliance Globalcom develop Ethernet project to connect Qatar with world of education
Qatar, 20 June 2010 - Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the pioneer in the nation's drive to become an advanced knowledge-based society, today formally unveiled an advanced Ethernet project that will connect Qatar to a world of new educational
Developed by industry leaders Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Reliance Globalcom, the Ethernet project has been designed to connect Education City, which hosts branch campuses of a number of prestigious international institutions, with their home campuses in the USA via high-speed Broadband connectivity. By deploying the Ethernet connection, academics and researchers will be able to exchange data and new findings via voice, video and data applications.
To mark the initiation of the project, a special ceremony was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, attended by executives from Qatar Foundation, Qtel and Reliance Globalcom.
As a result of this project, various QF entities will be able to work together seamlessly and securely, exchanging information instantly, with the increased focus serving to push Qatar forward on the world stage as a hub for original scientific, social and commercial research.
The new Global Ethernet solution replaces the existing legacy connections, and is the first of its kind to be instituted in Qatar and the whole Middle East region.
Mr. Khalid Al-Sulaiteen, Executive Director of Operations at QF said, "In our mission to develop Qatar as a knowledge-based society, we have prioritised the importance of forging links and building bridges with international institutions. Our investment in this cutting-edge solution demonstrates our commitment to furthering these relationships, and ensures that students and researchers can share knowledge around the world."
Through their partnership, Qtel will provide dedicated access in Qatar and support for the end-to-end solution, while Reliance Globalcom will provide Ethernet over MPLS connectivity outside of Qatar and through to the United States.
"Qtel has a long track record of working with key strategic projects for Qatar, and none has been more important than our latest work for Qatar Foundation. Education provides the basis for the growth and development of the nation, so we are pleased and proud that this solution will make a distinct contribution," said Engineer Khalid Abdulla Al-Mansouri, Executive Director of Business Solutions at Qtel.
Engineer Sa'di Awienat, Director of Information Technology at QF, said, "The solution provides secure connectivity for voice, video and data applications for better collaboration. This next generation solution reduces the total cost of ownership, with increased scalability and usage based billing. It brings enhanced prioritization features and improved redundancy, which enables critical information to be instantly shared globally."
"Key to the solution is its round-the-clock functionality and scalability, enabling researchers to share large documents and files in complete security rapidly and effectively," he added.
Equally, the bandwidth provided by the Ethernet solution will enable the deployment of "next-generation" communication tools, including High-Definition video conferencing and telepresence.
Punit Garg, President and CEO of Reliance Globalcom, said, "Our solutions will enable Qatar Foundation to extend world class education and research facilities for the benefit of the people of Qatar and the world. Reliance Globalcom offers Global Ethernet service as a one-stop-shop to over 36 countries and this new Ethernet bridge will provide an important link for Qatar."
Started in March 2009, the solution is now fully live, and already adding to the academic experience of the high potential students of Education City.
About Reliance Globalcom
Reliance Globalcom, a division of Reliance Communications, spearheads the Global Telecom operations of India’s largest Integrated Telecom Service Provider. Reliance Globalcom brings together the synergies of Reliance Communications’ Global Business encompassing Enterprise Services, Capacity Sales, Managed Services and a highly successful bouquet of Retail products and services comprising of Global Voice, Internet Solutions and Value Added Services. The company serves over 2,100 enterprises, 200 carriers and 2.5 million retail customers in 163 countries across 6 continents.
Reliance Globalcom owns the world’s largest private undersea cable system spanning 65,000 Kilometers seamlessly integrated with Reliance Communications’ domestic optic fibre running over 190,000 Kilometers, providing a robust Global Service Delivery Platform connecting 40 key business markets in India, USA, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region. With its recent acquisition of eWave World (now Reliance WiMAX World), a pioneer in the global WiMAX space, Reliance Globalcom has the capability to launch 4G services in over 50 countries. It has also acquired the Vanco Group (now Reliance Vanco Group), enabling the company to provide managed services to over 230 countries and territories across the globe. For further information, please visit www.relianceglobalcom.com.
About Reliance Communications
Reliance Communications Limited founded by the late Shri Dhirubhai H Ambani (1932-2002) is the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group currently has a net worth in excess of Rs. 64,000 crore (US$ 13.6 billion), cash flows of Rs. 13,000 crore (US$ 2.8 billion), net profit of Rs. 8,400 crore (US$ 1.8 billion).
Reliance Communications is India's foremost and truly integrated telecommunications service provider. The Company, with a customer base of 100 million including over 2.5 million individual overseas retail customers, ranks among the Top 5 Telecom companies in the world by number of customers in a single country. Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes 2,100 Indian and multinational corporations, and over 800 global, regional and domestic carriers.
Reliance Communications has established a pan-India, next generation, integrated (wireless and wireline), convergent (voice, data and video) digital network that is capable of supporting best-of-class services spanning the entire communications value chain, covering over 24,000 towns and 600,000 villages. Reliance Communications owns and operates the world's largest next generation IP enabled connectivity infrastructure, comprising over 190,000 kilometers of fibre optic cable systems in India, USA, Europe, Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.
About Qatar Telecom (Qtel) Qatar Telecom (Qtel) is a diversified telecommunications company with a presence in 17 countries, providing voice and data services to people and businesses, and bringing advanced technology to more than 60 million customers. We are committed to expansion in the MENA region, where we are the largest telecommunications company by number of operations, and South East Asia. Our vision is to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world by 2020.
About Qatar Foundation Founded in 1995 by decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, Qatar Foundation is a non-profit organization focusing on education, scientific research and community development. Under Qatar Foundation's umbrella are Education City, which comprises elite universities, several academic and training programs and Qatar Science and Technology Park, which boasts more than twenty-one world-class companies involved in scientific research and development.
Chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation also aims to enhance lives through community development initiatives including Doha Debates, Reach out To Asia and Al Jazeera Children's Channel.
Joint venture partnerships in the areas of design, ICT, telecommunications, policy studies and event management contribute to fulfilling the objectives of the Qatar Foundation.
For further information please contact:
Qatar Foundation Contact
Tariq Al Sada
Press Office Unit Head, Media Relations Dept,
Communication Directorate
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 454 0991
Qatar Foundation Contact
Riham El Houshi
Press Office Coordinator, Media Relations Dept,
Communication Directorate
Qatar Foundation
Tel: 974 4540967
