Qatar Telecom and Tata Communications have join hands to launch the enterprise network services, enabling a range of dedicated Ethernet services to be offered to customers seeking connectivity in Qatar and globally.

The partnership enables Qtel to extend its reach by offering Layer-2 Global Ethernet services into and out of Qatar, while Tata Communications, one of the leading providers of global Ethernet services, can now extend its global network coverage across the region.

Through this agreement, Qtel will be positioned to fully leverage Ethernet services as part of its approach to fully support Qatar’s leading services and enhance their business success, said top official.

Hassan Marafiah, senior director, Sales and Account Management, Business Solutions said: 'Qtel’s alliance with Tata Communications marks another important step forward in our strategy for providing the most complete range of solutions for companies in Qatar through partnership with best-in-class providers.'

'Businesses will be able to benefit from advanced solutions like Managed Disaster Recovery and Managed Data Centre services built upon a framework of world-class Ethernet technology. This will help fuel business success across Qatar,' he noted.

In particular, the enhanced range of connectivity options will provide an important solution base for companies in Qatar looking to expand regionally and internationally, Marafiah added.

Tata Communications’ MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) certified range of Ethernet services span across five continents and features Layer-2 Ethernet over SONET/SDH, Ethernet over MPLS and a range of configurations to keep pace with the growth in customer requirements.

Ethernet today is an ideal choice for enterprises with growing bandwidth and technology requirements, as it is cost-effective, scalable, and a flexible solution for enterprises of all sizes.

According to Marafiah, Qtel plans to extend its global footprint by either setting up its own nodes or by partnering with the best telecom operators across the globe.

Qtel currently has partnerships with many major telecom providers and has been offering international connectivity solutions to major customers.

By partnering with Tata Communications, Qtel has completed the loop of reaching every corner of the world and helped position Qatar at the heart of a global communications network. In addition, the increased connectivity provides greater security and protection against cable cuts and network disruption, he pointed out.

Commenting on the partnership, Vinod Kumar, president and chief operating officer of Tata Communications said, “Expansion into Qatar in partnership with Qtel achieves a key milestone in our strategy of building connectivity into emerging markets and being the provider of choice, delivering seamless solutions to meet the varied and wide spread network needs of our global customers.”

Tata Communications will now be able to extend connectivity into Qatar for its Ethernet and global MPLS customers. Tata Communications considers Qatar as a highly strategic market experiencing rapid growth in international trade and business, he added.

Tata Communications, with one of the largest submarine cable networks in the world and a sophisticated array of managed services, would further enhance Qatar nodes into a hub for its enterprise network solutions in the Gulf region, Kumar noted.

“We stand to realize long and lasting benefits from joining hands with an acclaimed telecommunications provider like Qtel. Its expertise, experience in Qatar and its vast array of services will be of high advantage to our customers expanding operations in this region,” said Radwan Moussalli, MD, Mena region Tata Communications.-TradeArabia News Service