Mobily, the second-largest GSM operator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, announces it has deployed Aperto Networks Inc.’s (Booth 102) PacketWave broadband wireless systems in the four largest cities in that country: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Khubar, as well as in Dahran, the gateway city to Bahrain.
Mobily’s PacketWave-powered 2.5GHz wireless network now reaches a population of more than 6 million metropolitan-area residents, as well as many of Saudi Arabia’s central business districts. The system is used to provide high-speed data connectivity and to enhance Mobily’s service delivery across the major urban areas in the kingdom.
“We selected Aperto’s PacketWave system because of its IP-rich functionality and spectral efficiency,” says Khaled Al-Kaf, CEO of Mobily.
Al-Kaf says the platform’s ability to support VPNs and VLANs, integrated routing functionality and strong scalability is important for Mobily’s plans to expand and to add business applications over IP.
“We have a large and growing footprint, and must have efficient, robust links throughout to meet the needs of our corporate customers.”
Al-Kaf adds, “We also have high confidence in Aperto’s WiMAX strategy, and in its partnership with NetInfo to give us outstanding network integration and field support where we have deployed.”
Aperto is working with NetInfo, a network integrator and solution provider based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The company is a leading provider of voice and data networking services in the Persian Gulf area.
“Aperto is a critical strategic systems partner to us in the Middle East,” explains Saeed Mohammed Bawazir, general manager of NetInfo. Bawazir says the PacketWave platform has a solid baseline of established integration performance, “and Aperto’s systems engineers are highly adept at providing us the needed support to design, configure and deploy client networks.”
“We are pleased to be working with Mobily, Etisalat and NetInfo on this important deployment,” adds Aperto CEO Reza Ahy. “Etisalat is a well-respected global player, with planned fixed-wireless deployments in other countries in the region, including the U.A.E. Together with NetInfo, we have established a strong base for expansion and look forward to shared growth in the future.”
Mobily is a brand name of Etihad Etisalat, the new mobile service provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in accordance with a 2004 royal decree, the company is 20 percent-owned by public investors while private investors own a 45 percent stake. The balance of 35 percent is owned by Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates. Etisalat was one of the first operators to introduce mobile services in the Middle East in 1982 and launched its GSM service in September 1994. Etisalat’s subscriber base is now more than 3 million.
