04 September 2007
Batelco Chairman Shaikh Hamad Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa officially opened Batelco's new $1 million NOC (Network Operations Centre) Tuesday, 4th September in the presence of Batelco Chief Executive Peter Kaliaropoulos, senior management and Batelco network staff.

The first of a kind centre for Batelco and the Kingdom of Bahrain is located in Batelco's Salmaniya Complex. The developed NOC is a state-of-the-art centre of excellence, where the Batelco core network - both the physical network and its associated infrastructure - will be managed, controlled and monitored, and where any related faults can be isolated. Professional specialised engineers will staff the centre round the clock to minimise any disruption to service by taking on the spot action.

Mr. Kaliaropoulos stated that Batelco's NOC is a Centre of Excellence where the Company's talented and passionate Network Operations team can leverage leading edge technology, personal knowledge and processes to offer Batelco's customers a superior world class service.

Members of Bahrain's press were invited for a guided tour of the new centre following the official opening ceremony.  

The Anatomy of the NOC:

The NOC features a video wall, 13.60 meters wide by 2.04 meters high. The wall is comprised of 20 rear-projection cubes, each with a 67-inch diagonal screen. The configuration has a total screen surface of almost 28 square meters.

The monitors display different views and maps of the network and its status. There is also a video display component so the operators can watch television stations--necessary to keep up with news and weather events.

The monitors on the wall are physically divided into sections that correspond with the company's operating platforms. These include voice information, data information, and actual physical infrastructure.

The floor of the NOC contains consoles (Service Desk) for 22 engineers, who staff the room 24/7. The consoles, which include computer workstations, were custom-designed for Batelco. There is also a Video Conferencing Room, Technical Store, Shift Staff Room and Server Room.

-Ends- 

About Batelco
Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) is the leading integrated communications provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain and an emerging force among the regions key telecommunications players.

Batelco serves both the corporate and consumer markets in the most liberalised and competitive environment in the Middle East, and remains committed to delivering cutting-edge telecommunications to its customers in Bahrain and the MENA region. The Company's management and staff are driven by an enthusiasm for delivering the best customer experience based on innovation, affordability and reliability of products and services. 

Batelco's specialised services cover the full spectrum of telecommunications solutions for residential and business customers and span a comprehensive range of mobile services, international roaming, high-speed Internet connections, satellite services, WiFi, MPLS IP-VPN network provisioning and management, Datacoms services over fixed, wireless and internet platforms, managed services, systems integration and enterprise solutions.

Batelco has invested US$1.4 billion in Bahrain's telecom infrastructure over the past 26 years, including significant investment in Next Generation Networks infrastructure which has reinforced the Kingdom's position as a leading communications hub. The Company's shares are listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange with a total capitalization of approx US$ 2.6 billion.

With an ongoing strategy to grow overseas, the Batelco Group incorporates joint venture operations in Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

This press release has been issued by Batelco's Corporate Affairs department. 

For further information, please contact:
Batelco Corporate Affairs General Manager
Ahmed Al Janahi
TEL:  +973 1788 4337,
e-mail:  cf@btc.com.bh

© Press Release 2007