Green Packet Networks (GPN) plans to increase the market penetration of its Self Organizing Network (SON) products through a dedicated partnership expansion strategy.

It involves recruiting two main system integrators from each country in the Mena region to build a network of more than 20 partners by the end of 2007.

The announcement was made at the Green Packet Networks Partner Forum 2007, which gathered VOIP & ISP operators, systems integrators, Telecom Regulatory Authority of Bahrain, solution providers and value-added resellers when it was held at the Mercure Grand Hotel in Bahrain on July 11 and 12, 2007.

The Forum, hosted by GPN, focused on boosting GPN's partner network by highlighting new opportunities for business growth through GPN's wide range of products and solutions specially suited for key regional markets.

'We organised the Forum with the fitting theme of 'turning partnership into revenue' to underscore the great potential for substantial returns on investment through GPNs cost-effective and reliable solutions,' said chairman of GPN Dr Ali Al Mashat.

'This was an event and a platform to introduce GPN to the existing as well as prospective partners with the objective of penetrating into their local markets. We are very satisfied with the positive feedback from the participants and we are already making plans for the next Partner Forum, which we plan to hold annually in different locations in the region,' he added.

The Partner Forum enabled participants to explore specific GPN business prospects in the IT and Telecom sectors of the region, and also highlighted how GPN products could generate a reliable revenue stream for GPN partners. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of GPN's new range of SON wireless products.

With guests derived from 27 high-profile international companies spanning 13 countries, the two-day event also served as a platform for hands-on training and as a networking opportunity.

The countries represented at the event included Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi, Singapore, Sudan and UAE.

'GPN has added great value to the services we provide in Bahrain. Our partnership has created a wide range of Internet solutions at very competitive prices, helping us greatly improve our market performance and improving customer satisfaction,' said CEO of Kalaam Telecom, a Bahrain-based Internet and VOIP service provider, Carlos Riera.

GPN was launched in Bahrain in February 2007 and is a joint venture between Green Packet Berhad, a Malaysian-based technology company listed on the Main Board of Bursa Securities Malaysia Berhad; and Saudi Economic and Development Co. (SEDCO), a Saudi-based investment company.

SEDCO is a premier private wealth management and investment organization owned by the Bin Mahfouz family, with a portfolio of diverse investments distributed in Saudi Arabia and also internationally. SEDCO strives to combine sophisticated and modern fund management practices with strict Shari' a compliant investment. TradeArabia News Service