Cisco delivers Value-Over-IP in Qatar, enhancing Internet service delivery for businesses, Government and residential customers


DOHA, Qatar, December 19, 2002 – Customers of Qatar Telecom (Qtel) are today receiving some of the most advanced Internet services in the Middle East following the first phase of Qtel’s nationwide, Public IP Infrastructure program. Qtel is now offering its industrial, government and residential customers a variety of next-generation services using a converged network architecture and MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) technology from Cisco Systems. This is one of the first projects of its kind for a Middle East Telco, and highlights how carriers are developing their services to support local industry with world class Internet connectivity.
 
Qtel’s Public IP Infrastructure project is an ongoing initiative undertaken to support the needs of business and Government. Starting from today, it will be capable of offering MPLS VPNs for industry and broadband Internet for businesses and residences. The current phase provides these services using xDSL[1] and Ethernet (ETTx) access and will eventually be expanded to include nation-wide ETTx coverage, wireless and eventually Integrated Voice and Video Services Over IP (Internet Protocol).
 
“As we look to Qatar’s future, we predict that voice, video and data traffic over a secure IP Network will grow at a staggering rate. Ministries, industry and other customers will increasingly look to us to provide them with the services with which they can effectively operate in this increasingly digital world,” said Dr. Nasser Marafih, General manager of Qtel. “We quickly recognised the benefits of an end-to-end networking solution that offered converged services and multiple-access technologies over a unified infrastructure.”
 
Based on a single, converged and scalable IP MPLS backbone, and as it expands in the future, Qtel will be able to offer its customers, including hundreds of businesses, thousands of residences and every Government Ministry, an increasing range of next-generation services.
 
“As Qatar moves ahead with its plans as a convention, vacation and business location, it will have increasing need for the latest advanced services combing voice, video and data networking. Qtel has shown vision in implementing this forward-looking network backbone, which gives it a significant advantage over regional competitors,” said Sam Alkharrat, service provider regional manager for the Gulf and North Africa at Cisco Systems.  “Middle East Telco operators such as Qtel are raising the bar regionally and globally on innovations in state-of-the-art infrastructure integrated service offerings”, Alkharrat added.
 
The unified Cisco core means Qtel can scale efficiently because of its distributed aggregation capability, which offers the possibility to aggregate ETTX type access out of the same POPs and over the same backbone.
 
For Qtel the benefits are both short and long term. With the Cisco backbone in place, Qtel can efficiently expand its bouquet of service on the same network, thereby allowing it to offer multiple services and generate multiple revenue streams.
 
Cisco and its Channel partners Mannai Trading and Getronics installed this solution that includes Cisco’s leading Catalyst 7609 Optical Switch Routers and the Cisco 7400 Aggregation Routers, Cisco platforms provide end to end advanced IP VPN services using Cisco’s Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) software based on Cisco’s industry-leading IOS software.
 
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About Qatar Telecom
Qtel is the exclusive telecommunications provider in Qatar until 2013 and is one of the largest public companies in the country with 1,700 employees.  It was successfully launched on the Doha Securities Market (DSM), Abu Dhabi and Bahrain stock markets in 1998. 
 
Qtel provides a range of telecommunications products including national, international, mobile GSM, Internet and cable television services.
 
Qtel’s strategic priority is to create value for its shareholders through superior customer service and new products and services demanded by the rapidly growing and modernising Qatari economy.  Qtel is undergoing an extensive transformation programme to develop its already advanced telecommunications network, achieve world-class operational efficiency and seek international investment opportunities. 
 
About Cisco
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com/me.
 
Cisco, Cisco IOS, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

[1] DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a technology for bringing high-bandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines. xDSL refers to different variations of DSL, such as ADSL, HDSL, and RADSL.

© Press Release 2002