Qtel, the leading telecom operator in Qatar, and Reliance Globalcom, a leading global provider of enterprise, wholesale, consumer and managed services, announced today the signing of a strategic agreement that will help position Qatar as a major hub for global Internet Protocol Services (IPS), including Global Ethernet and customised support for international enterprises.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will inter-connect networks to provide a range of managed services for Qatar-based and international clients.

Ahmed Al-Derbesti, Executive Director, International Services, Qtel said: “This agreement further defines Qtel as the leader in providing customized global telecom solutions to businesses in Qatar and the region.”

Under the partnership, Qtel and Reliance Globalcom will be able to offer a comprehensive range of value-added services to customers in Qatar and internationally, including Global Ethernet, Full Circuit IPLC (International Private Leased Circuit), Managed Services and IP VPN (Internet Protocol for Virtual Private Networks).

Such advanced services enable business networks to manage a higher volume of voice, video and data applications in a more innovative manner, providing an important competitive advantage to globally-focused companies. The two companies will now be able to provide innovative, seamless and customised connectivity solutions by leveraging each other’s networks and infrastructure. 

In addition, this timely 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 Globalcom owns the world’s largest private undersea cable system, spanning 65,000 kilometres and connecting key business markets in India, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the United States, including its FLAG Europe-Asia cable.

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.

Today, many companies are looking to benefit from global Ethernet networks that enable them to extend their Local Area Networks (LANs) across fully-accessible Ethernet Wide Area Networks (WAN.)  In establishing this partnership, Qtel and Reliance Globalcom are ensuring that Qatari companies can fully benefit from such advanced network technology.

“We are pleased to expand our services by connecting Qatar on the Reliance Globalcom network, via a strong regional partner such as Qtel. Our relationship with Qtel is part of a strategy to collaborate with quality service providers and leverage each other's strengths to extend network capability and reach in the region for serving the fast growing needs of our customers,” said Punit Garg, President and Chief Executive Officer for Reliance Globalcom.  

 Reliance Globalcom and Qtel are increasingly seen as heavyweights in the field of global communications. Qtel has a presence in 17 countries and continues to expand in the Middle East, North Africa, the Subcontinent and Asia, while Reliance Globalcom currently works with more than 1,400 enterprises and 200 telecommunications carriers in 163 countries.

“By combining the strengths and competencies of Qtel and Reliance Globalcom onto a seamlessly interconnected platform, we are extending the capabilities and internal efficiencies of our business clients, particularly those with ambitions to grow their operations in the region,” added Al-Derbesti.