Green Packet Networks strengthens regional presence with its inaugural Strategic Partner's forum

The announcement was made at the Green Packet Networks Partner Forum 2007, which gathered VOIP & ISP operators, systems integrators, Telecom Regulatory Authority of Bahrain, solution providers and value-added resellers when it was held at the Mercure Grand Hotel in Bahrain from July 11 - 12, 2007. The Forum, hosted by GPN, focused on boosting GPN's partner network by highlighting new opportunities for business growth through GPN's wide range of products and solutions specially suited for key regional markets.

'We organized the Forum with the fitting theme of 'turning partnership into revenue' to underscore the great potential for substantial returns on investment through GPNs cost-effective and reliable solutions. This was an event and a platform to introduce GPN to the existing as well as prospective partners with the objective of penetrating into their local markets. We are very satisfied with the positive feedback from the participants and we are already making plans for the next Partner Forum, which we plan to hold annually in different locations in the region,'

said Dr. Ali Al Mashat, Chairman of GPN.

The Partner Forum enabled participants to explore specific GPN business prospects in the IT and Telecom sectors of the region, and also highlighted how GPN products could generate a reliable revenue stream for GPN partners. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of GPN's new range of SON wireless products,

With guests derived from 27 high-profile international companies spanning 13 countries, the two-day event also served as a platform for hands-on training and as a networking opportunity. The countries represented at the event included Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi, Singapore, Sudan and UAE.

'GPN has added great value to the services we provide in Bahrain. Our partnership has created a wide range of Internet solutions at very competitive prices, helping us greatly improve our market performance and improving customer satisfaction,' said Carlos Riera, CEO of Kalaam Telecom, a Bahrain-based Internet and VOIP service provider that has partnered with GPN in launching the first operational fixed wireless broadband in Bahrain.

The wireless service in Bahrain uses GPN's SONmetro solution, one of the three SON products launched by GPN in the MENA region. SONmetro solution, designed for metropolitan coverage, is an innovative mesh-network solution over WiFi using Opportunity Driven Multiple Access (ODMA) technology that enables provision of wireless broadband connectivity at GSM type coverage with DSL/Cable data speeds at a cost relatively lower than most wireless solutions. The other SON products are SONaccess, which features concurrent delivery of all media types, such as voice, data and video, independent of location and network type; and the SONbuddy, a software solution that enables any Wi-Fi equipped device to form a spontaneous Self Organized Network, without the need for an access point or other wireless infrastructure.

GPN was launched in Bahrain in February 2007 and is a joint venture between Green Packet Berhad, a Malaysian-based technology company listed on the Main Board of Bursa Securities Malaysia Berhad; and Saudi Economic and Development Co. (SEDCO), a Saudi-based investment company. SEDCO is a premier private wealth management and investment organization owned by the Bin Mahfouz family, with a portfolio of diverse investments distributed in Saudi Arabia and also internationally. SEDCO strives to combine sophisticated and modern fund management practices with strict Shari' a compliant investment.