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Omantel signs $700m deal for submarine cable system

Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) signed a $700 million deal with 16 other global telecommunication companies on Tuesday night in London to construct the first direct, high-bandwidth optical-fibre submarine cable system from the United Kingdom to India, also passing through Oman.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 22:11 May 7, 2008
  • Gulf News

Muscat: Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) signed a $700 million deal with 16 other global telecommunication companies on Tuesday night in London to construct the first direct, high-bandwidth optical-fibre submarine cable system from the United Kingdom to India, also passing through Oman.

The $700 million Europe India Gateway 'EIG' cable system is expected to enhance the capacity and diversity of the telecommunication agencies in these regions.

Deputy chief executive officer - networks and technology Eng. Mohsin Bin Hassan Al Raisi signed the agreement on behalf of Omantel.

In a statement here, Omantel chief executive officer Dr. Mohammad Bin Ali Al Wohaibi said the agreement would facilitate the building of a Europe India Gateway (EIG) cable system. "It will significantly enhance capacity and diversity to serve this rapidly growing region in telecommunications sector and investment environment," he said.

Al Wohaibi said Omantel will invest around $50 million in the project. The new 15,000-kilometre (9,000-mile) submarine cable system will connect 13 countries and three continents.

The landings of the submarine cable are planned in the UK, Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, Monaco, France, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, the Sultanate of Oman, the UAE and India.

The EIG cable system will also provide seamless interconnection with other major cable systems connecting Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.

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