Derbas: "We strive to bridge the gap between the Arab world and the West in the fields of communication and the internet."

20 October 2008, Dubai, UAE - Smartlink Communications, a regional leader in internet, data transfer and communication via satellites (VSAT), revealed its latest communication, internet and accompanying services at GITEX 2008.

Smartlink announced that it will be using cutting-edge technology to provide internet and communication services across 36 Middle Eastern countries, like Iraq, KSA, Libya, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, Yemen... etc, focusing on rural areas lacking in telecommunication infrastructure and telephone lines. Through this new technology, remote areas will have access to high-speed internet connectivity via small satellite dishes not exceeding 96 cm in diameter and a small receiver, similar to those used in homes.

The biggest advantage of this service is that it utilizes DVB-S2/RCS technology, a first for the region. This technology enables the fastest and most efficient two-way internet services ever offered by the VSAT industry, independently of any communication infrastructure.

With regards to the new service's cost, Mr. Khaled Derbas, Chairman and CEO of Smartlink, said, "The company will offer the services at highly competitive prices, ranging from USD 150 to 1,500, depending on the specifications and the bandwidth or capacity that the client requests." Mr. Derbas added that "achieving internet connectivity with such a small receiver, which was once unimaginable, has now been made a reality through dedicated technological R&D." Derbas mentioned that our sales forecasting by the end of 2009 will 10 million USD

Mr. Derbas stated that the new technology will benefit individual users, public and government authorities, companies, banks, embassies and universities. "It will enable users to receive and transmit all kinds of data - flexibly and at the lowest costs - using the latest communications technology," he said that the internet users all over the Arab world reached 34 million users by the end of 2007 and the users globally reached 1.3 billion by percentage 2.90 % compared with 97.9 % globally (source: Miniwatts Marketing Group (http://www.internetworldstat.com.

He explained that the company has undertaken extensive research to identify pressing issues that exist in this sector. "Smartlink strives to bridge the gap between the Arab world and the West in the fields of communication, data exchange, and internet usage in terms of cost and available technology," said Mr. Derbas.

Smartlink is particularly focused on the banking, financial and secure electronic networks sectors, offering the most advanced and creative solutions tailor-designed to suit each client's specific needs, from general security to minimizing the risk of penetration and tracking. Another solution that Smartlink offers the banking sector is cost-effective, high bandwidth links between banks' ATMs and Point Of Sales (POS), providing greater flexibility and freedom in selecting locations by overcoming the lack of telecommunications infrastructure in some remote areas.

Smartlink is growing and diversifying rapidly, with a number of projects in the pipeline. Mr. Derbas said, "The company is actively investing in a number of communication fields". New services include fleet tracking (fleet management services), VoIP and International Voice Gateways services for GSM operators.

Mr. Derbas pointed out that Smartlink also recently signed an agreement with Bahrain's BATELCO to host the first iDIRECT gateway VSAT at Batelco's facilities. Smartlink will also shortly sign an agreement with Jordan Telecom (Orange) to host the second gateway, NERA. The two gateways will provide multiple services to support economic, social, scientific and security activities.

Mr. Derbas also said that Smartlink has lately gained permission from the Jordanian Communication Regulation Authority to obtain an Individual Public Communication License, the highest communication license possible in Jordan. This will enable Smartlink to operate throughout Jordan as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). Smartlink is also in the process of studying other projects, to be announced later.

-Ends- 

About Smartlink Communications
Smartlink Communications is a leading Jordanian company that operates as a data transfer and VSAT communication provider. Its J.S.P.C with 5 million USD capital and the major shareholders from Jordan, UAE, Kuwait and KSA.

The company has set up the first iDIRECT station in Kingdom of Bahrain through a collaborative agreement with Bahrain Telecommunication (Batelco). The company will set up a second, NERA, in Jordan in collaboration with Jordan Telecom (Orange). These two locations were strategically chosen to ensure flexibility, effectiveness and service continuity through marine fiber optic cables, which connect the two stations with the global internet backbone providers.

For more information, please visit the company website at www.smartlinkcomm.com.

For further information, please contact:
Mohammed Al-Daqqaq
Public Relations Executive
Kenzi Marketing Solutions
Tel: (+9712) 445-6975
Fax: (+9712) 445-6970
Mobile: (+97150) 412-8307
Email: mohammed@kenzimarketing.com

© Press Release 2008