Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 06 | Page 51

COUNTRY FOCUS: QATAR OOREDOO AND ARABSAT SIGN MAJOR AGREEMENT ON SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS For this month’s country focus, Intelligent CIO examines the drive behind the satellite networking industry in Qatar and the advancement of Ooredoo’s vision for the Gulf state and beyond. O oredoo and Arab Satellite Communication Organisation (Arabsat) have signed a major strategic partnership agreement that will see the two companies work together to develop new satellite services for customers. Under the terms of the agreement, Ooredoo and Arabsat will review the current satellite projects they have in progress with a view to collaborate on technology and design, and will aim to work together on future projects to deliver cutting-edge satellite services. In particular, they will look to collaborate on new VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) services, as demand rises for the innovative technology in Qatar and across the region. www.intelligentcio.com for delivering cutting-edge services, so we see strong potential to work with them to deliver robust solutions for our customers.” VSAT services, which provide internet services via a small satellite dish, are being increasingly deployed for a wide range of applications, including point-of-sales transactions, data processing, and high speed internet access for sites and offices in remote locations. Khalid Balkheyour, President and CEO, Arabsat, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Ooredoo to collaborate on the development of new and improved satellite services. As companies look for reliable global connectivity and connection, we see significant opportunities for Ooredoo and Arabsat to be their provider of choice.” Waleed Al-Sayed, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Ooredoo continues to grow our global network of world-class partners in every area, as we look to increase the range and diversity of ICT services that we offer. As one of the world’s top satellite operators, Arabsat has developed a reputation Ooredoo offers one of the most advanced portfolio of satellite services in the region. In particular, the company has seen strong demand for advanced services in recent months such as Bandwidth Pooling, Maritime Solutions, and Auto-Acquire Antennas to support ad-hoc remote broadband. INTELLIGENTCIO 51