Wednesday, February 16, 2005
JEDDAH, 16 February 2006 — Individuals and companies in Saudi Arabia are about to witness a new phase in information capacity expansion and data transmission after the announcement yesterday of three Saudi telecom companies that they were marshaling their technical expertise in order to build, deploy and operate the Kingdom's largest fiber optic network with a total value of SR1 billion ($266 million).
Etihad Etisalat, "Mobily," Integrated Telecom Company and Bayanat Al-Oula for Network Services are laying the infrastructure for a fiber optic network that will cover 12,000 km of highways as well as cities Kingdom-wide. The network will be constructed and deployed in several phases within the next two years. A major international specialized company has been selected and will sign the contract for the implementation of the project within the next few weeks. The new network will be capable of transmitting data and phone services for both landline and mobiles at a very high speed. Mobily expects the new network to support and complement its existing mobile network services by enabling it to provide other services with highly sophisticated technologies. Bayanat Al-Oula for network services and the Integrated Telecom Co. aim to provide high speed and cost effective data services through the network to all sectors in the Kingdom.
Within less than a year from launch in late 2004, Mobily services covered all cities in the Kingdom, and gained two and half million subscribers while offering highly competitive services. This week, Mobily showcased its 3G and 3.5G technologies at the Saudi Communication Exhibition in which it participated for the very first time.
Moreover, Mobily showcased its unique technology of GPRS EDGE, which connects subscribers to the Internet at speeds in excess of 200 kbps. This service, which is considered the most recent development in telecom technology, is available to all Mobily postpaid subscribers with the added value of international roaming. There are only eight mobile operators who offer this high technology in the Middle East, according to the GSM Association, and Mobily is the only Saudi mobile operator to do so.
Etihad Etisalat, "Mobily," Integrated Telecom Company and Bayanat Al-Oula for Network Services are laying the infrastructure for a fiber optic network that will cover 12,000 km of highways as well as cities Kingdom-wide. The network will be constructed and deployed in several phases within the next two years. A major international specialized company has been selected and will sign the contract for the implementation of the project within the next few weeks. The new network will be capable of transmitting data and phone services for both landline and mobiles at a very high speed. Mobily expects the new network to support and complement its existing mobile network services by enabling it to provide other services with highly sophisticated technologies. Bayanat Al-Oula for network services and the Integrated Telecom Co. aim to provide high speed and cost effective data services through the network to all sectors in the Kingdom.
Within less than a year from launch in late 2004, Mobily services covered all cities in the Kingdom, and gained two and half million subscribers while offering highly competitive services. This week, Mobily showcased its 3G and 3.5G technologies at the Saudi Communication Exhibition in which it participated for the very first time.
Moreover, Mobily showcased its unique technology of GPRS EDGE, which connects subscribers to the Internet at speeds in excess of 200 kbps. This service, which is considered the most recent development in telecom technology, is available to all Mobily postpaid subscribers with the added value of international roaming. There are only eight mobile operators who offer this high technology in the Middle East, according to the GSM Association, and Mobily is the only Saudi mobile operator to do so.
# posted by Unknown : Wednesday, February 16, 2005
