International service provider Sparkle, Telecom Italia's (TIM) infrastructure and connectivity business, has announced the expansion of its network footprint to Iraq with the opening of a new point of presence (PoP) in Erbil.
The PoP was opened in cooperation with Novel Point, an Iraqi international provider of connectivity and ICT solutions.
Sparkle says the new PoP leverages Novel Point’s cutting-edge open data centre and Sparkle’s Tier 1 global IP backbone Seabone (AS6762) to deliver top-notch internet connectivity services to the Iraqi market as well as to neighbouring countries.
By connecting to Sparkle’s PoP in Erbil, network providers, ISPs, OTTs, and content and application providers, as well as enterprises, can benefit from reliable, low-latency IP transit services in scalable multiples ranging from 10 GB to 100 GB.
In addition, Sparkle says, customers can gain access to its comprehensive IP portfolio including DDoS Protection, which gives customers the option to self-protect their networks from attacks, and Virtual NAP, which provides virtual access to leading internet exchange points (IXPs) without the need to build proprietary infrastructure.
The partner companies say that the agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Capacity Middle East 2024 global telecommunications event, underscores the commitment of both companies to usher in a new era of innovation, connectivity and technological progress in Iraq, positioning the nation as a hub for digital excellence.
The deal comes a little under a week after the Italian government made a bid for 100% of Sparkle, an offer that TIM's board of directors is due to examine at a board meeting this week.