Qtel and AT&T to work together to offer the region's most advanced global network services

The Enhanced Virtual Private Network services will provide Qtel's customers access to an international network of more than 150 nodes in more than 50 countries around the world. At the same time, Qtel provides large multinational companies from all over the world with network presence in Qatar and the rest of the Middle East.

Qtel will deliver the global connectivity and eVPN services working with AT&T Inc. and NavLink.

The global network node is the first of its kind to be deployed in the Middle East and clearly confirms Qtel's status as a leading regional service provider. The network node is hosted in Qtel's new Qatar Data Center, which has been built to the highest standards and specifications.

Qtel Chief Executive Officer Dr. Nasser Marafih said, "Under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, we have embarked on a program to lead the region into the next generation of telecom and IT related services."

"By establishing this network node in Doha, Qtel can now offer leading Qatari and multinational enterprises a wide range of new advanced data services, including world wide connectivity over a global network."

The eVPN service delivers the feature-rich capability of a fully managed IP network while providing the reliability, quality and security of an MPLS-based private network environment. Services provided to customers include:
• The ability to connect seamlessly to customers' world wide branches with their headquarters in Doha
• The capacity to handle critical and sensitive business information reliably and without delay
• Assurance of 'no single point of failure' allowing customers to continue to conduct business even in the event of a breakdown anywhere in the network
• One-Stop-Shopping: end-to-end management of all aspects of the service, including contract renewal, maintenance and billing.

Qtel sees significant opportunities to offer global services to its customers in the public and private sectors. Choosing to pursue strategic partnerships with leading global networking companies - boosts Qtel's strategic intent to become the One-Stop-Shop for global networking solutions and data centre services for customers not only in Qatar but throughout the region.