Senior officials from Qatar Telecom and India's Tata Communications held a key meeting to discuss their existing and prospective projects including the new Tata Global Network.

Tata Communications owns and operates the world’s only wholly-owned subsea ring around the world, most recently launching the Tata Global Network (TGN) Gulf cable system, which has delivered significant benefits for residents and businesses in the region.

Qtel said its involvement in the major project has gone from strength to strength since the landing of the high-capacity submarine fibre optic cable at the Al-Kheesa Landing Station in Doha, in March.

The TGN-Gulf cable ensures that Qtel can manage the ever-growing demand for wholesale voice and data services in Qatar, bringing an important global, high-speed route for data and voice communication, as well as adding greater capability and resilience to network infrastructure, said Qtel Qatar CEO Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al-Thani and Tata Communications’ CEO Vinod Kumar who led the discussions.

The meeting was also attended by Waleed Al Sayed, COO of Qtel Qatar; Yousuf Al Kubaisi, the chief wholesale and international officer, Qtel Qatar; and Ahmed Al-Derbesti, Group COO of the Qtel Group.

Covering nearly 20 per cent of the world’s Internet routes, reaching over 240 countries and territories, the cable network offers speeds of up to 10G, said Tata officials at the meeting.

Better broadband penetration and global connectivity for wholesale and retail businesses – notably direct routes in emerging markets in the Gulf region, China and India –will also provide strong incentives for international companies looking to position regional offices in Qatar, they added.

Sheikh Saud said, "Qtel continues to support the country’s long-term strategy to transform itself into a world-class hub for ICT and our partnerships with leading companies like Tata Communications are a key part of that strategy."

"Qtel's ongoing collaboration with Tata Communications is delivering significant benefits for the people of Qatar. In particular, the connection with a global cable network will increase redundancy and reduce the impact of disruptive events such as cable breaks and communication cuts," he added.

In his comments, Vinod Kumar said, “Qtel’s vision and culture of innovation makes it an ideal partner for Tata Communications as we continue on our journey to better connect emerging global markets.”-TradeArabia News Service