Etisalat sponsors Regional IPv6 Summit in Abu Dhabi to be organized by Case Technology and IPv6 Forum

Regional telecom operators, ISPs and International Speakers to participate in the Summit on 29th and 30th March 2005

Abu Dhabi, March 13,2005 : Etisalat today announced that it has teamed up with the IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) forum and Case Technology to host a Regional IPv6 Summit which will take place in Abu Dhabi on March 29^th and 30^th, 2005. The IPv6 Summit will gather the most innovative and influential leaders from the region's Internet community to discuss strategic and deployment issues related to IPv6. During the summit, speakers from the International IPv6 summit will present an overview of the latest developments in the implementation of IPv6. Regional telecom operators and ISPs will also announce their plans and strategy for IPv6 during the summit.

IPv6 is the "next generation" protocol designed by the IETF(Internet Engineering Task Force) to replace the current version Internet Protocol, IP Version 4 ("IPv4").Most of today's internet uses IPv4, which is now nearly twenty years old. As a result, there is a growing shortage of IPv4 addresses, which are needed by all new machines added to the Internet. Etisalat through UAEnic (United Arab Emirates Network Information Centre) kickstarted the IPv6 initiative in the UAE by end of year 2000 by bringing the technology to UAE. As part of this initiative Etisalat had joined the 6bone Network for testing purposes to gain more experience on IPv6. A task force has been in place since then which has implemented a IPv6 network with connections to many regional ISPs for testing purposes.

According to Mohammed Al Fahim, Executive VP, Marketing Etisalat, "Etisalat's position as a regional leader in bringing in state-of-the-art technologies & services to the region is reflected by our sponsorship of this summit.IPv6 protocol shall provide new addressing schemes that support a much higher level of security, Quality of Services (QoS) & Mobility . Etisalat has already committed substantial resources to incorporate this protocol in our network and we look forward to sharing our experience and exchange insights with other participants from the region."

Speaking on the occasion, Abdulla Hashim,Senior Manager ,eCompany said , "As devices & applications that run over the Internet rapidly increase, the need for new IP addresses is being keenly felt. Moreover, as the smart home phenomena takes off and more household devices are controlled over the network, there will be a need to provide addresses for these items. This will allow us to take advantage of the market opportunities which thus arise.I am confident that this summit will help highlight the benefits of deploying IPv6 and give attendees insights into applications of IPv6 in different areas."

According to Itidal Hasoon, General Manager, Case Technology and Co Chair MEA IPv6TF(Middle East & Africa Internet Protocol Version 6 Task Force), "As a founder of worldwide IPv6 Forum, Case Technology has taken the lead in creating the awareness and we are in the process of forming the IPv6 Middle East & UAE Taskforce to deploy IPv6 in the region. This taskforce will promote and help the region embrace IPv6 and move towards its deployment in a phased manner.

It is the responsibility of service providers, governments and technology providers to implement IPv6 for e-Nations. This will allow more sophisticated deployment of eGovernment, eEducation, eBanking and defence models."

According to Latif Ladid, President, IPv6 Forum and Vice President, Ericsson Telebit A/S Luxembourg," IPv6 will enable the two-way Internet igniting a whole myriad of end-2-end innovations. IPv6 will add a capital architectural design to lead the Internet where it should head to and where it has not gone before, generating new business models beyond the current web model. IPv6 is not a fashion. IPv6 is a vital plumbing upgrade for the building of the New Internet. It's the investment of the 21st century for innovation in networking of everyone and everything and a green field for new innovations over innovations."

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Note for Editors
About Case Technology
Case Technology, the Middle East networking Integrators for the last 15years passes all deliveries of networking development starting from telex network to Analogue networks to digital network to high speed broadband networks. Case Technology has designed and implemented the latest standards of state of the Art Intelligent building for Telecoms, Banks, Oil, Finance, retail and other sectors. Case Technology offers an extensive range of communications products and systems, providing connectivity solutions for networks of every size, from the smallest LANs to the most sophisticated integrated Voice and Data global networks. Case Technology has established steady growth and a highly professional reputation in the United Arab Emirates, and has been based in UAE since 1990.

About IPv6 Forum
The IPv6 Forum is a world-wide consortium of over 160 leading Internet service vendors, National Research & Education Networks (NRENs) and international ISPs, with a clear mission to promote IPv6 by improving market and user awareness, creating a quality and secure New Generation Internet and allowing world-wide equitable access to knowledge and technology. The key focus of the IPv6 Forum today is to provide technical guidance for the deployment of IPv6. IPv6 Summits are hosted by the IPv6 Forum and staged in various locations around the world to provide industry and market with the best available information on this rapidly advancing technology. http://www.ipv6forum.org

Press release issued by Public Relations Department - Etisalat

For further media information, please contact:
Ahmed Bin Ali,
Public Relations Manager
Tel: 02 6182173
Fax: 02 6334448
PRD@etisalat.ae