JEDDAH, 15 May 2008 — Leading telecommunications companies signed a partnership agreement to install the most advanced marine cable directly between the United Kingdom and India (gateway to Europe and India, EIG).
This project will also provide the necessary means to support international communications for the Kingdom in general and STC in particular providing a high degree of dependability and continuity for the company’s various services. The project will cost $600 million.
Saudi Telecom is one of the key contributors to the project supported by 18 leading local, regional, and international telecommunications companies. This cable will link the Kingdom directly with 12 countries in three continents (France and the United Kingdom from the West passing through Libya and Portugal, India from the East passing through Djibouti, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.)
The contract was signed with two global specialists in the field, Alcatel Lucent and Tyco.
Saudi Telecom President, Saud Al-Daweesh said that this project comes in line with STC’s strategy to develop and upgrade its international network in order to meet the increasing demand of the Company’s various telecommunications and internet services from customers providing the latest in communications techniques such as high-speed internat services, e-commerce services, and audiovisual communications. Al-Daweesh added that this project will contribute to the support of company investments and external expansion plans.