Batelco participate in live video link up to celebrate the completion of Flag Telecom's FALCON Project

Batelco Chief Executive Peter Kaliaropoulos participated in the live session, which showcased the immense capabilities of the cable system, along with Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, Honorable Union Minister for Communications & IT Government of India; Mr. Anil D. Ambani Chairman Reliance ADA Group; Mr. Bhagwan Khurana, Group President, Reliance Communications; Dr. Tarek Kamel Minister of Communications & Information Technology Egypt; Mrs. Massoma Al-Mubarak Minister of Communications Kuwait; Mr. Saud Al-Shakeeri, Minster & Chairman Omantel; Dr. Mohammed Al-Wehaibi, Executive President, Omantel; Mr. Yacoub Khalil Snobar, Acting President Integrated Telecom Company Saudi Arabia and other dignitaries and officials.

FALCON is a high capacity resilient loop cable system that provides multiple landings throughout the Gulf region, with submarine links stretching from the Middle East to Egypt in the west and to India in the East. Across India the FALCON system can interconnect seamlessly with India's domestic networks, including Reliance's 80,000 km high speed domestic infrastructure, allowing customers to access major cities and towns.

Mr. Ambani said that the launch of FALCON is a defining moment in telecommunications history that will make the world and even smaller place and give millions of ordinary people a precious gift to connect seamlessly with over half the globe.

Mr. Maran made the first call to Dr. Kamel in Egypt to officially launch FALCON at 11.15am Bahrain time. The successful connection was greeted with applause from all participants scattered over the Middle East region and India, linked by the live broadcast.

Mr. Kaliaropoulos, joining the link up from Batelco Headquarters in Hamala, said that this was an historic day - a great moment for Batelco, a great moment for Bahrain.

"This link will help us deliver more reliable and cost effective access to the global broadband highways. It will help our customers interact and transact faster through digital connectivity and keep bridging the digital divide between societies," he said.

Mr. Kaliaropoulos also took the opportunity to offer gratitude, on behalf of Batelco and its shareholders, to the Reliance Group and all who contributed in the successful completion of the project.

Batelco has invested tens of millions of dollars in the project to ensure superior connectivity and diversity, which further positions Bahrain as the preferred telecommunications hub in the Gulf.

FALCON is the premier submarine cable system throughout the Gulf and the wider Middle East region and the completion of the project, is a cause for celebration. The link will provide the backbone to deliver advanced broadband services throughout the region and beyond.

Flag Telecom, a member of the Reliance Group, is a leading provider of international wholesale network transport and communications services. Their network already spans the globe and the company has an acknowledged reputation for a centralised end-to-end network management underpinned by exceptional quality and service support.