Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 78 | Page 12

NEWS

China Telecom Global and stc launch a new point of presence in Jeddah

Recognising the need for connectivity between enterprise organisations and carriers in Asia and MENA region , China Telecom Global ( CTG ) has partnered with Saudi Telecom ( stc ), the leading operator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ( KSA ) to launch a new point of presence ( PoP ) at Mena Gateway in Jeddah . The new PoP will allow CTG ’ s global and Asian multinational enterprise customers to enjoy direct access to their KSA branches .

Mohammed Alabbadi , Chief Wholesale Officer , stc , said : “ By joining hands with China Telecom , we are glad to continue expanding our footprint of network solutions for KSA-based corporate clients and provide them robust data services that connect to Asia and beyond . We have been providing businesses with reliable and secure connectivity across their offices in the region and globally , and this new partnership further solidifies our commitment .”
Dayong Zhang , CTO , China Telecom , Africa and Middle East Ltd , stated : “ The establishment of our PoP in KSA marks a key milestone in our growth journey . This PoP in the Middle East region has provided a solid foundation for businesses in KSA , especially for those planning to expand to Asia-Pacific , to enjoy fast and reliable connectivity to the region that powers their business .”

Cisco celebrates 25 years of innovation in Saudi Arabia

Global technology giant Cisco recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its establishment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia . During the time , Cisco has become a key contributor to the Kingdom ’ s innovation journey , through initiatives such as the Country Digital Acceleration ( CDA ) programme and Cisco Networking Academy .

To support the development of digital skills , Cisco Networking Academy has been active in the Kingdom since the year 2000 and to date , more than 225,000 students have acquired IT and networking skills .
To celebrate its 25th anniversary in the country , Cisco is supporting the Saudi Green Initiative , which aims to plant 10 billion trees across the Kingdom .
“ At Cisco we are proud to celebrate 25 years of success in Saudi Arabia . Our presence reflects our commitment
to support the Kingdom ’ s digital transformation agenda . Over the years , Cisco has played an important role in building digital and green communities through various initiatives , and the ‘ Let ’ s make it green ’ campaign is no different ,” said Reem Asaad , Vice President , Cisco Middle East and Africa .
Abdulghani Faqeeh , MD , Cisco Saudi Arabia , added : “ During all these years , Cisco has been at the forefront of delivering technology thought leadership and innovations to the Kingdom Today , our solutions in networking , cybersecurity , collaboration , data centre and mobility are used across all sectors of the economy .”
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