Qatar Telecom (Qtel), AT&T and NavLink announced that they have signed an agreement to extend the AT&T Global Network (AGN) in the Middle East region through the deployment of a state-of-the-art AGN node in Doha, the Qatari capital.
This new node will provide Qtel's customers access to advanced data, connectivity and managed services from AT&T and will allow Qtel’s network to interconnect with one of the world most advanced Internet Protocol (IP) based global infrastructures. It will mean that AT&T becomes the first global service provider to offer global data services in Qatar, one of the fastest growing economies in the region.
The AGN node, which will be hosted in Qtel’s new Data Center, is the first of its kind deployed in the region, confirming Qtel as a leading regional service provider. The Data Center has been built to the same standards and specifications AT&T requires for centers housing its own network nodes around the world.
Qtel and NavLink, an AT&T affiliated company, also announced today that they have signed a series of agreements. NavLink will install and maintain the new AGN node and work with Qtel to support customers needing AT&T services.
Qtel Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nasser Marafih said, “Under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, we have embarked on a program to lead the region into the next generation of telecom and IT related services.
“The set up of an AT&T network node in Doha shall enable Qtel to offer leading Qatari and multinational enterprises an array of data services including world wide connectivity over AT&T’s global network.”
“AT&T is pleased to build on the strong relationship which NavLink has built with Qtel and to be involved in this project to offer customers state-of the-art, global network capabilities” said Chris Rooney, President AT&T Sales. “It offers us a significant opportunity to extend our presence and services for our multinational customers to one of the fastest growing and economically active regions of the world.”
George N. Chammas, NavLink Co-President & CFO, said “We have been honored to be associated with Qtel since its introduction of IP related data services. We look forward in assisting Qtel to serve the enterprise hosting, managed services and wide are networking needs for enterprises and institutions”.
The announcement today —part of an ongoing series of MPLS enabled node deployments into countries around the world, including in China and Mexico—reflects AT&T’s commitment to business customers that generated almost 75 percent of the company’s $30.5 billion annual revenue in 2004.
The AT&T Global Network already has over 1000 MPLS enabled nodes in more than 50 countries around the world. Extending the reach of AT&T’s global IP network into additional countries such as Qatar reflects a growing demand for increased network presence by the company’s largest multinational customers.
Qtel sees significant opportunities to offer global services to its customers in the public and private sectors. Choosing to pursue a strategic partnership with the leading global networking company and its cutting edge regional affiliate boosts Qtel’s strategic intent to become the main centre for global networking solution and related network and data centre value added services for customers not only in Qatar but throughout the region.
