Raya brings Asia to Egypt powered by TM

The agreement yielded the new service AsiaConnect which allows companies in Egypt to bypass traditional forms of communication to their offices in Asian-Pacific with valuable return on their investment.

With the outsourced International Virtual Private Network using the latest telecommunications technology, Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), companies operating in Egypt will be able to exchange data securely and conduct video conferencing with their offices in Asia directly for the first time in Egypt.

Subject to international voice deregulation starting January 2006, AsiaConnect will enable companies to run international voice calls on their VPN to Asia. With the new service companies can choose the speed that matches their exact need for the performance level and cost they desire. Raya's AsiaConnect ensures flexibility in network management supported by unsurpassed 24/7 customer care.

Prior to launching AsiaConnect, companies had to connect their branches in Asian countries either through IPLC Telephony - a former technology of networking, via the Internet or through a VPN to Asia passing through Europe.

"Lack of data security and reliability, data delay and high cost are the main disadvantages of these solutions which make AsiaConnect a better solution," according to Mohammad Fares, Managing Director of Raya Telecom. 'Raya's AsiaConnect offers a reliable, fast, cost effective and secure connectivity alternative to businesses in Egypt.'

TM is expanding its presence globally by developing nodes in countries where it has presence through its Regional Office, Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and USA. TM International, TM's international investment-holding subsidiary, currently has interests in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

It also has selected investments in Africa namely Guinea and Malawi and also in countries where it could develop partnership with other foreign Telcos,for example Raya Telecom. TM's entrance into the Egyptian market for its IPVPN services will mark the company's first significant presence to cater to a high volume of IP traffic destined to the North African market.

"This partnership is part of our strategy to realize a strong presence on the international level as a main provider for outsourced connectivity solutions," said Medhat Khalil, Chairman and CEO of Raya Holding. Khalil said that this agreement is aligned with government's initiative aiming to encourage FDI and to position Egypt as a global destination for outsourced solutions.