Etisalat, and Tata Communications, a leading provider of the new world of communications and a part of the $62.5 billion Tata Group, have jointly announced the launch of enterprise network services, enabling to offer a range of dedicated Ethernet services to the customers seeking connectivity in the UAE and globally. The partnership enables Etisalat to extend its reach by offering Layer-2 Global Ethernet services into and out of the UAE, while Tata Communications can now extend its global network coverage into the UAE.

Tata Communications is the global leader in Ethernet services portfolio. Etisalat can now leverage Tata Communications’ Ethernet portfolio to offer advanced network services to its customers who are expanding globally into new and emerging markets, looking for a service provider who provides the best connectivity options.

Tata Communications’ MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) certified range of Ethernet services span across five continents and features Layer-2 Ethernet over SONET/SDH, Ethernet over MPLS and a range of configurations to keep pace with the growth in customer requirements. Ethernet today is an ideal choice for enterprises with growing bandwidth and technology requirements, as it is cost-effective, scalable, and a flexible solution for enterprises of all sizes.

Abdulla Hashim, Vice President, Business Solutions at Etisalat said, “Etisalat’s alliance with Tata Communications is a significant accomplishment, in line with our strategy of partnering with leading service providers to extend Etisalat’s global footprint. Through this partnership, Etisalat will offer benefits of dedicated end-to-end bandwidth through a superior variety of global Ethernet solutions in addition to offering value added services like Managed Disaster Recovery, Managed Data centre services etc. to our customers.”

Etisalat also plans to extend its global footprint by either setting up its own nodes or by partnering with the best telecom operators across the globe. Etisalat currently has partnerships with 15 major telecom providers worldwide since 2005 and has been offering international connectivity solutions to major customers. By partnering with Tata Communications, Etisalat has completed the loop of reaching every corner of the world.

Tata Communications will now be able to extend connectivity into the UAE for its Ethernet and global MPLS customers. Tata Communications considers the UAE as a highly strategic market experiencing rapid growth in international trade and business. Tata Communications, with one of the largest submarine cable networks in the world and a sophisticated array of managed services, would further enhance the UAE nodes into a hub for its enterprise network solutions in the Gulf region.

Both partners intend to build and offer a host of value-added services including Telepresence, managed security services, CDN (content delivery networks), Hosting and Managed Contact Centers into the region. Tata Communications now has a new office in Dubai, in addition to its existing office in Abu Dhabi.

Commenting on this partnership Vinod Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Tata Communications, “Expansion into the UAE in partnership with Etisalat achieves a key milestone in our strategy of building connectivity into emerging markets and being the provider of choice, delivering seamless solutions to meet the varied and wide spread network needs of our global customers.”

Both providers will effectively collaborate to work on various marketing and sales support activities in the UAE and globally to develop and deliver innovative solutions. These solutions would be targeted for key enterprise segments such as airlines, media, real estate, logistics, banking & finance and other companies.

“We stand to realize long and lasting benefits from joining hands with an acclaimed telecommunications provider like Etisalat. Their expertise, experience in the UAE and their vast array of services will be of high advantage to our customers expanding operations in this region.” commented Radwan Moussalli, Managing Director of the Middle East and North Africa regions for Tata Communications.

For more details about Tata Communications visit (http://www.tatacommunications.com)

About Tata Communications
Tata Communications, a member of the $62.5 billion Tata Group, is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. The emerging markets communications leader leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national and Indian enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

Tata Communications’ range of services include transmission, IP, converged voice, mobility, managed network connectivity, hosting and storage, managed security, managed collaboration and business transformation for global enterprises and service providers, as well as Internet, retail broadband and content services for Indian consumers. The Tata Global Network encompasses one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries across 300 Pops, and more than 1 million square feet of data center and co-location facilities.

Tata Communications’ unique emerging market depth and breadth of reach includes a national fiber backbone network and access to network in over 60 cities and 125 Pops in India, strategic investments in South African converged services operator, Neotel, Sri Lanka and Nepal and, subject to fulfillment of conditions precedent, a 50% ownership in China Enterprise Communications (CEC) providing full country VPN coverage in China.

Servicing customers from its offices in over 80 cities in 40 countries, Tata Communications is the number one global international wholesale voice operator and number one provider of international long distance, enterprise data and Internet services in India, the Company was named “Best Wholesale Carrier” at the World Communications Awards in 2006, “Best Pan-Asian Wholesale Provider” at the 2006 and 2007 Capacity Magazine Global Wholesale Telecommunications Awards and was awarded “Best Progress in Emerging Markets” at the 2008 Mobile Communication Awards.

Tata Communications Limited along with its global subsidiaries, (Tata Communications), is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. (NYSE: TCL)

About Etisalat
Etisalat has been the telecommunications service provider in the United Arab Emirates since 1976. Since then, it has built up state-of-the-art telecom infrastructure and taken a leadership position of innovation and reliability among regional and international operators.

Etisalat is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world and the largest operator in the Arab world headquartered in the UAE (as per FT500 March 31, 2008).

Etisalat operates in 18 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, servicing over 80m customers. It also has Points of Presence (PoP) in New York, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Singapore providing a truly global reach.

In addition to being the UAE’s telecom provider, Etisalat has now expanded to manage and operate telecom companies in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan, Tanzania, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger, Togo, Republic of Central Africa, Ivory Coast, Nigeria , Indonesia and Afghanistan. With shares in Sudan’s ‘Sudatel’, Inida, Qatar’s Q-Tel and Thuraya, the satellite telephone service provider, Etisalat is a key regional player that lends its expertise and resources towards the betterment of information and communication technology.
Visit Etisalat at www.etisalat.ae.