Qtel, Tata to strengthen trade ties

Senior officials of Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Tata Communications executives have held top-level meetings on both existing and prospective projects in Doha recently. Qtel Qatar CEO Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al-Thani and Tata Communications’ CEO Vinod Kumar led the discussions, which were also attended by Waleed Al Sayed, Chief Operating Officer, Qtel Qatar, Yousuf Al Kubaisi, Chief Wholesale and International Officer, Qtel Qatar and Ahmed Al-Derbesti, Group Chief Operating Officer, Qtel Group. 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’s 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. Sheikh Saud Bin Nasser Al-Thani, CEO, Qtel Qatar, said: “Qtel continues to support Qatar’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.” 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. 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. 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. 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. “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,” said Vinod Kumar, CEO, Tata Communications. Qatar Telecom (Qtel) provides a full range of telecommunications services in Qatar and across its presence in 17 countries. Our vision is to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world by 2020 through expansion in both the MENA region and South East Asia.