The Bahrain Financial Exchange (BFX) has appointed 2Connect as the exchange’s telecommunications service provider for voice, data and internet services.

To be launched in the first quarter of 2010, BFX is the first multi-asset exchange in the Middle East and North Africa which will be internationally accessible to trade cash instruments, derivatives, structured products and Sharia-compliant financial instruments.

2Connect will provide the exchange with key infrastructure for the provision of a voice and data network, equipment for the transfer of data and the supply of IP telephony, internet connectivity and the provision of data centre space for hosting BFX infrastructure, said a top official.

In addition, 2Connect, will also offer a suite of service support packages for the installed infrastructure.

The infrastructure will be essential to the Exchange in its day-to-day operations, plug and trade electronic trading floor and international standard in-house training academy, said Nick Bishop, chief operations officer, BFX.

“We are delighted to have 2Connect as our chosen solution provider for these services. They showed a sound understanding of our business model and the solutions we require. The BFX looks forward to a good working relationship with them,” he remarked.

Rick Hillson, vice president, Customer Operations, 2Connect said, “2Connect are extremely pleased to have been chosen as a solution provider for a world class client such as the BFX.  As a leading service provider we are ideally placed to provide BFX with the infrastructure and support they require for their demanding business model.”-TradeArabia News Service