Al Raha Gardens the first area to connect to Etisalat's FTTH network

Al Raha Gardens in Abu Dhabi is now one of the first areas in the Middle East to connect to Etisalat's FTTH network.

This makes Etisalat one of the first international operators to use this technology in order to make it available in homes. This project is executed in cooperation with ALDAR Properties that is developing Al Raha Gardens.

This technology has revolutionized the access to fixed-line services, high speed internet service, and cable TV which Etisalat offers through E-Vision.

The FTTH Technology is a more secure technology and enables better quality delivery in key areas such as TV, Telephony, and High Speed Internet Service, bringing customers' speeds of up to 60Mbps. This improved service is due to no interference signal through fiber optic technology.

Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat, said:" We are very excited about the opportunities that are now possible with the implementation of FTTH technology in homes. With this technology, customers will be able to enjoy many services including fixed-line calls, television services over the internet protocol IPTV (Advanced digital TV), many other services that require high speed internet service, telephony, and other high-bandwidth online experiences such as gaming and video-on-demand (VOD). Customers will be able to indulge in this through only one consolidated connection insuring high quality and standard of services." Ousama Ghannoum Marketing and Media Director ALDAR Properties, commented, "Part of the delivery on our projects is ensuring that the occupiers have access to services that will enhance the lifestyle offering. We are pleased that this network will be able to provide such an efficient service to Al Raha Gardens." Al Haddad added: "Al Raha Gardens is the starting point for Etisalat in its plan to make the FTTH service available across the country. The Next Generation Network will be deployed in several stages across the UAE and expected to be complete by 2011. The second stage of deployment has already started in Abu Dhabi and work in Dubai and Sharjah will commence within the coming months." "We expect that by the end of 2008, our customer base with direct FTTH access will be in the hundreds of thousands." he concluded.

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du is the Gold Sponsor for the 7th Training and Employment Week in Al Ain

His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of UAE University, Eng. Salah Salem bin Omair Al Shamsi, President of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in UAE and President of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, visited the du stand during the 7th Training and Employment Week in Al Ain.

Jamal Khalifa Lootah, Director National Recruitment & Development, du, welcomed the guests and briefed them on du’s efforts in supporting the Emiratization strategy in the UAE while highlighting that Emiratization in du has reached 22%. (PR)

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Etisalat's launches Fantasy Football League

Etisalat is launching a Fantasy Football League, giving fans in the UAE an opportunity to manage their own virtual teams, and to be named "Best Manager" at the end of the season, winning an all-expenses-paid trip to Euro 2008, Already a sponsor of the Etisalat Football League, the telco says its latest initiative is aimed at broadening the appeal of the game in a country that has already proven to be football-mad.

The Fantasy Football League allows participants to pick eleven players from a list of current professional players in the Etisalat Football League, and to sign them according to a set budget. Like their real-life counterparts, managers choose their teams based on players' current and projected performance.

The "Best Manager" award goes to the person whose players perform at the highest level in the actual Etisalat Football League, during the 2007-2008 season.

Etisalat customers can subscribe to the Fantasy Football League at the site, (www.etisalat.ae/football) free of charge. Participants will be able to choose their team, name it, and purchase the players with a virtual budget of AED 100 million.

The Fantasy Football competition will continue till the last week of the current Etisalat Football League season. The "Best Manager" will attend the Euro 2008 semifinals and final games, courtesy of Etisalat, complete with six days and five nights in Vienna. There will also be monthly winner in March, April and May, with first-prize winners receiving talk time credit for AED 5,000, second-prize AED 3,000 and third-prize AED 1,000.

"Etisalat has long been associated with some of the most popular football initiatives in the UAE, such as its sponsorship of the UAE Football League since 2005," said Nasser Bin Obood, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Etisalat. "The Fantasy Football League reflects the long-term commitment we continue to show to promoting the game in the UAE." He added, "Everyone in this country shared the joy when the national football team won of the Gulf Cup for the first time last year, and we at Etisalat are delighted to have been able to play a part in that great victory. This is a reflection, too, of our commitment to the UAE and to all of our customers." Bin Obood pointed out that Etisalat has launched a number of other initiatives for football fans in the UAE and beyond, including a recently-launched interactive website.

Etisalat will also be providing more ways for customers can access games, scores, team rankings and more, through SMS, MMS, Mobile TV and the popular mobile & web portal Weyak. These will also enable enthusiasts to access matches, highlights, funny moments and SMS alerts of match times and venues. (WAM)

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Thuraya sets to boost position in world communications' market

Thuraya Satellite Communications Company endeavours to bolster its position in the world satellite communications market, Thuraya Company Chief Executive Yousif Al Sayyed told Emirates News Agency (WAM) in an exclusive interview.

"Despite difficulties over launching its third satellite in mid 2006, the company managed to reap good revenues due to various services launched at the market", he said, but added that "the delay in launching the third satellite effectively affected general performance, yet Thuraya is flexing muscles after launching the third satellite at cost USD 330 million in January. It heads towards experimental period and providing services to East Asian market- a promising commercial region with population over two billion people".

Al Sayyed reiterated that the Thuraya satellite mobile phone is the most usable and dynamic worldwide, indicating that with catering services for the East Asian region this month, the new satellite will broaden base of potential customers worldwide, targeting two thirds of world population.

"Thuraya customers now range from 220, 000- 250, 000. After launching the third satellite, the customers will add more 30, 000 customers and 60, 000 customers next year", Thuraya chief executive predicted, adding that the international and civil organisations, which operate in the crisis zones always seek Thuraya satellite phones as they could not get normal telephone communications.

He noted that the agreement the company signed with China and Australia on distributors of Thuraya services in the two countries, will have positive effect in financial performance of the company.

The UAE based company, is one of the important satellite communications in the world. It provides satellite mobile phone services to over 170 countries worldwide, ranging from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Middle East to Iceland and Japan. Its services cover over 4.5 million people. Thuraya was founded in 1997 through a strategic partnership between national communications companies and major investment companies in the region. (WAM)

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Thuraya to launch commercial service

Following the successful launch of its third satellite dedicated for Asia Pacific region, Thuraya is moving towards launching commercial service next month.

Satellite post-launch activities have been under way since the sea launch on January 15, 2008.

“The smooth in-orbit operations and testing of the satellite functions, to date, will make it possible to launch Thuraya services in East Asian markets by the mid of next month,” said Thuraya’s CEO Yousuf Al Sayed.
Since launch, the company along with its technology partner Boeing Satellite Systems International, completed major post-launch milestones. Source

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