Page 25 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Omantel Launches 1st E-Auction in Procurement

and Contracts Sector

As part of its operational digital specialized local companies, including emphasizes the company's intention to
transformation, Omantel, the pioneering SMEs, were shortlisted based on their launch more e-auctions in the forthcoming
integrated telecom services provider in the compliance with the pre-qualification period. The procedures carried out in this
Sultanate, has launched the first e-Auction requirements. Commenting on the launch regard are characterized by transparency
in the procurement and contracts sector of Omantel's first e-Auction, Ghalib Ali and equal opportunity," Al Mamari added.
to sell spare parts, used communication Hamood Al-Mamari, Senior Manager, It is worth mentioning that Omantel
systems equipment, devices, and electric Purchase Transaction Office at Omantel offered an e-auction training program to
generators. As a leading company procurement and contract sector, said, the companies which fulfilled the relevant
empowering digital transformation in the "At Omantel, we seek to streamline and conditions. This training resulted in the
Sultanate, Omantel has challenged the facilitate our procedures with all the active and competitive participation of all
circumstances dictated by the COVID-19 parties dealing with us. The launching the shortlisted companies. Omantel is the
pandemic and has channelized a great of the first e-Auction comes as part of pioneering telecommunications company
deal of its business and procedures our endeavor to stay up to date with the in the Sultanate and the primary provider of
electronically. This initiative was made technological progress achieved in the integrated internet services for individuals,
possible by adding new features and field of e-services and to save time, effort, companies, and government agencies. The
modules to the existing platforms. An and money for companies wishing to company strives to promote growth and
e-Auction was launched through the compete for the purchase of the materials prosperity in all sectors of the Sultanate,
company's e-tendering system (https:// offered for tendering.'' “The success of this along with providing a new concept of
tenders.omantel.om), which was open to e-auction reflects the company's pursuit businesses and bringing in the global
all local and international companies. Six to achieve digital transformation. It also content and means of entertainment.

Omantel Inaugurates Oman's First International Data Center

subsea cable systems that terminate directly inside the
facility, providing customers with increased performance
and security, along with significant cost savings. Talal
Al Mamari, CEO of Omantel, said, “Today, data center
infrastructure sits at the heart of global ICT and enables
all of us to enjoy the cloud-based apps and services
we use every day. MC1 represents a significant step
forward for Oman and the Middle Eastern ICT markets.
We are delighted that the facility is now operational, and
together with Equinix, we hope to enable a new era of
telecommunications both regionally and globally. Coupled
with the majority of the GCC’s international submarine
cables landing in Oman, all accessible from the Equinix
data center, we believe this partnership will further enhance
Oman’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.”
MC1 will provide customers with direct access to the
Taking yet another major technological stride that will further revolutionize Equinix Internet Exchange, creating a regional peering hub
the future of telecommunications in Oman and the Middle East region, for networks, content providers and large enterprises to
Omantel has announced the opening of MC1, an international data center exchange internet traffic over the world’s largest peering
built in collaboration with Equinix – the world’s digital infrastructure solution. MC1 is Equinix’s first data center in Oman and
company. The facility is the first world-class, carrier-neutral hub in Oman its fourth in the Mena region. Omantel entered into a joint
where carriers, content providers, and cloud providers can colocate venture with Equinix in 2018 to deliver data center and
their critical IT infrastructure. This state-of-the-art hub, an International interconnection services to customers in the Middle East
Business Exchange (IBX) data center that has been opened in Barka is through the development of the new network-dense data
strategically located between Asia, Africa, and Europe.MC1 will serve as center. The resulting site, MC1, is operated by Equinix and
a regional interconnection hub providing ultra-low latency connection includes 23,600+ square feet of colocation space and 725
points between key global business markets. The new facility benefits cabinets. The site also can grow to 2,150+ cabinets with
from direct connectivity to strategic cable landing stations (CLS) and future IBX builds. With subsea cable systems terminating

25 SEP-OCT 2020