Etisalat announces 'Carrier and Wholesale' services portfolio

Etisalat's 'Carrier and Wholesale' services operates within Etisalat's existing business structure, offering a comprehensive portfolio of international services and broadband capacity to telecommunications companies and mobile operators across the Middle East and around the world. These services include voice, Internet and a complete portfolio of mobile and value added services.

"When Etisalat was founded we had a vision to make the UAE a hub for Internet in the region," said Mohammad Hassan Omran, Chairman at Etisalat.

"Our strategic investments in intercontinental and regional submarine systems and sophisticated service sets, have positioned the UAE to capitalize on the growth in the region. It also creates a strategic advantage, relative to our subsidiaries' international service requirements. This international capacity also enabled our data and voice services in the UAE, to be ranked amongst the best in the world. Today, we are delighted to offer the same standard of service to our peers in the industry, to consolidate our offering to bring comprehensive telecommunications services to the region and beyond."

Etisalat today is the largest carrier of voice traffic in the Middle East. The UAE telecommunications reaches its calls at over 600 destinations, with 118 direct connections and points of presence in the UAE, London, New York, Amsterdam, Singapore and soon in Frankfurt.

Etisalat is also leveraging its extensive international mobile network to offer the most comprehensive international mobile voice and data services to mobile operators including its subsidiaries, bringing economies of scale across the Etisalat family of companies. Etisalat is also offering advanced data services including IP Transit and advanced MPLS-VPN services.

"Previously, the region's operators have been somewhat dependant upon European and North America carriers to extend their global reach. Etisalat's 'Carrier & Wholesale' services has created a voice, data and mobile service hub in the UAE, to broaden their choice, to include a provider that has a deep understanding of the unique nature of their requirements. We are delighted to be working with our strategic partners around the world to deliver comprehensive global solutions to our valued customers and subsidiaries," said Ali Ameeri, Executive Vice President, Carrier and Wholesale for Etisalat, who also addressed the Telecoms World Middle East conference.

Mr. Ameeri highlighted the expected tremendous growth in international voice and data traffic within Gulf countries. He also unveiled figures, which show financial wealth in terms of GDP per capita, and mobile penetration is increasing in Etisalat's new markets in Asia and Africa. "The Middle East, Africa and South Asia are witnessing massive growth in demand for retail telecom services. The same dynamics driving this growth are also driving the growth in wholesale services," Ali Ameeri concluded.

Etisalat currently operates across 15 countries, and each of these operators will have access to Etisalat's 'Carrier and Wholesale' services bringing the highest levels of connectivity, reliability and capacity to the emerging markets in Africa and Asia.