OmanTel deploys one of region's most advanced disaster recovery and business continuity infrastructures

With an EMC Symmetrix® system installed at each of the three OmanTel sites around the Sultanate, all linked with EMC SRDF® replication software via a fiber connection, the company's core business applications can 'failover' automatically to different locations should unplanned downtime occur. In addition to a Symmetrix DMX™ system, OmanTel has also deployed EMC remote clustering software to enable a transparent and seamless information transfer between the three disaster recovery sites in the case of a system outage or power cut.

OmanTel's technology team has undergone extensive training from EMC to ensure the optimization of the new business continuity system. Testing of the plan has been so successful that OmanTel plans to offer a disaster recovery hosting service based on the same EMC infrastructure to Oman's financial services and government sectors.

"A number of factors motivated OmanTel to engage with EMC to launch our business continuity strategy," said Eng. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Wohaibi, The Executive President, OmanTel. "Prior to the company's upcoming public offering, we have been enhancing our competitive abilities, including OmanTel's capacity to continue operating during power cuts and other unforeseen circumstances."

"As a telecoms provider poised to welcome new entrants into the Oman market, we simply can't afford to be without our key data - any outage could seriously damage our reputation and bottom line. OmanTel has been relying on an EMC-based business continuity solution for more than a year, which we have now expanded to our three sites, and it has saved us both time and money by bringing our information back on-line promptly when downtime has occurred," he added.

Building on the success of the Knowledge Oasis of Muscat (KOM) and the country's major upgrade of its ATM and fiber network, OmanTel is now developing a new utility-based or 'pay as you use' disaster recovery solution for other organizations in the country, including banks and public ministries. This new offering will enable businesses in Oman to outsource their business continuity needs and focus on core competencies.

"Having realized OmanTel's own business continuity objectives, we have surveyed the Omani market and learned that even some of the most prominent organizations here may not have adequately prepared for a 'disaster,' whether that's a power outage, water leak, or major catastrophe. OmanTel also discovered that a number of organizations simply don't want to manage their own disaster recovery environment - they prefer to pay for the latest technology and expertise on an outsourced basis," Al-Wohaibi continued.

Mohammed Amin, regional manager, EMC Middle East, said, "As a long-term supplier of OmanTel, EMC is convinced that OmanTel's new business continuity strategy makes the telecoms provider a more competitive organization, as its disaster recovery strategy now rivals that of the world's leading telcos. We anticipate that other market sectors including banking and government departments may now follow OmanTel's lead in the business continuity space."

The EMC deployment comes at a time when OmanTel is expanding its subscriber coverage and customer service strategies to maintain leadership in an increasingly liberalized market. The company has recently reduced calling rates and announced a wireless local loop deployment for 100 percent geographic coverage in the Sultanate.