Three major telecom companies active in Saudi Arabia have come together to form a strategic partnership.
The aim is to lay the country's newest fibre-optic network. Costing SR1 billion, the network is intended to cover most of the Kingdom in two phases by 2008. Total length of the fibre-optics will be 12,000 km.
The trio comprises Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), Integrated Telecom Company and Bayanat Al-Oula. In fact, their involvement goes well beyond the pure construction of the network as they will go on to operate it. The partners will be appointed a non-Saudi specialist company to implementing the network - this contract will be inked in Riyadh within the next two weeks.
Initially, the proposed network will extend to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam during its first phase and subsequently to other areas in its second. "The highly sophisticated telecom network will enable the three companies to enhance their advanced services," declared Humoud Al-Ghobaini, manager corporate communications and media relations of Mobily.
The new network would expand telecom infrastructure and facilities to meet growing future demand. He continued: "The network will represent a strategic option for Mobily, since it enables its mobile services to provide additional services with sophisticated technologies...Through this network, Bayanat Al-Oula (for network services) and the Integrated Telecom Co will be able to provide high-speed and cost-effective data services to all sectors, including institutions, companies, enterprises and individuals in the Kingdom."
More info:
