Page 25 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Batelco to Launch “Global Zone Kuwait” In Partnership with Ooredoo

Kuwait

Batelco, the leading digital solutions provider in Bahrain has ecosystem required to meet the needs of its global customers
announced the establishment of “Global Zone Kuwait”, which will and partners. We are very pleased to have Ooredoo Kuwait as a
offer an ecosystem platform to further support the enablement strategic partner to support our regional rollout plans for Global
of digital transformation in the region. In line with Batelco’s Zone to deliver enhanced services to our customers and to
strategic agenda to cater to the ever-growing regional data support business innovation that will ultimately benefit the entire
demands, Batelco has selected Ooredoo – the first telecom region from carriers through to end users.” Abdulaziz Al-Babtain,
company to provide innovative digital services in Kuwait - as a Chief Business Officer at Ooredoo Kuwait and one of the pioneer
strategic partner to enable the rollout of Global Zone’s regional executives at FASTtelco since its early years said, “The expanded
expansion and support the growing regional ICT and connectivity partnership with Batelco will give FASTtelco – Ooredoo’s owned
needs. As a result of further growing Global Zone and expanding ISP - access to a new set of products to further grow its portfolio
into new markets, a seamless data center interconnection is by offering AWS DX, Global Zone, MPLS and MN-IX.” “The
created and entirely powered by FASTtelco, the leading internet establishment of Global Zone Kuwait - this extensive regional
service provider (ISP) in Kuwait; acquired by Ooredoo in 2016. footprint - will provide our clients with access to additional global
Featuring state-of-the-art high density designed systems, fiber routes for minimized latency and ultra-high performance and
Global Zone Kuwait is being developed rapidly and supported I am certain that it will significantly boost FASTtelco’s capacity to
by a superhighway network infrastructure. This entails Batelco’s support local and regional businesses and organizations to meet
wholly owned terrestrial cable system, Batelco Gulf Network (BGN), demanding cloud applications,” he added. Batelco’s expansion of
ensuring both cost effective solutions to the end customers and Global Zone into the Kuwaiti market is essentially a stepping-stone
superior performance. Through Batelco and Ooredoo Kuwait’s into the ultimate rollout plan for the region that will eventually
longstanding partnership, the two entities will be able to further extend globally through Batelco’s strategic partnerships, robust
strengthen their ties and help their customers and partners to global network, and digital ecosystem.
reach new markets, while eliminating the complexity of getting
connected to other players. Global Zone, a carrier-neutral data
center, which was launched in the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2019,
has a rich digital business solutions portfolio including Manama-
IX, a carrier-neutral internet exchange, Cloud Connect solutions,
and IPT solutions, which will also be available in Global Zone
Kuwait, where Ooredoo Kuwait/FASTtelco and Batelco’s partners
can avail of these solutions for their business needs. Commenting
on the occasion, Adel Al-Daylami, Chief Global Business Officer at
Batelco said, “Batelco has always sought to broaden its reach, with
the aim of meeting the needs of customers and partners across
the region. Batelco also has a continued focus on developing the

Batelco Extends Mobile Coverage to Jarada Island

Batelco has announced the extension of mobile coverage to
Jarada Island, a popular destination with visitors and boaters
located 32km east of Manama. The company claims it is the only
Bahraini mobile network operator (MNO) to deliver coverage to
the sand island, enabling customers to use voice, data and video
call services. Commenting on the development, Batelco General
Manager Networks Rashid Mohamed noted: ‘Batelco achieved
the new coverage of Jarada Island by its highly skilled team
of technicians deploying a custom-made solution to achieve
improved range and quality of radio coverage over the sea, a
testament to the ongoing improvement of the Batelco network.’

25 JUNE-JULY 2020