RIYADH, 11 April 2006 — In a major development in the telecom industry, three major telecom companies have formed a strategic partnership to lay the latest fibre optic network at a cost of SR1 billion. The 12,000 km-long project will be implemented in two phases over the next two years and will cover most of the country.
Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), Integrated Telecom Company and Bayanat Al-Oula for Network Services have entered into a partnership to build, deploy, and operate the state-of-the art fiber optic network. The partners have assigned a foreign specialized company for implementing the project for which a contract will be signed in Riyadh within the next two weeks.
Initially, the proposed network will extend to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam during its first phase and subsequently to other areas in its second.
“The highly sophisticated telecom network will enable the three companies to enhance their advanced services,” Humoud Al-Ghobaini, manager corporate communications and media relations of Mobily told Arab News. He added that the new network would expand the telecom infrastructure and facilities to meet the growing future demand.
“The network will represent a strategic option for Mobily, since it enables its mobile services to provide additional services with sophisticated technologies.
“Through this network, Bayanat Al-Oula for Network services and the Integrated Telecom Co. will be able to provide high speed and cost effective data services to all sectors including institutions, companies, enterprises and individuals in the Kingdom.”