High-Speed Internet for the Gulf

Alliance International Management (AIM) and the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) signed a deal to provide digital infrastructure services in the Middle East using GCCIA fibre optic terrestrial cable system.

According to the agreement the 1,400km terrestrial fibre optic cable owned by GCCIA will be managed by  a new entity called Alliance Networks. It will be interconnected with other regional subsea cables giving access to onward connectivity to Europe and Asia as well as major regional landing stations.

Recently AIM and GCCIA together with other prominent telecom companies such as Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX); Bahrain National Holding Company (BNH); Gulf Bridge International (GBI); Gulf Data Hub (GDH); Gulfnet Communications Company (B.Online); and Nuetel Communications (Nuetel) signed a memorandum of understanding to create a new digital infrastructure services company called Aliiance Networks.

"This initiative will contribute greatly to bringing low latency, value for money and high-quality Internet to the region and will help establish the GCC countries as a key Internet hub,” said Peter van Burgel, CEO of AMS-IX.

The initiative aims to bridge high speed connectivity infrastructure with data centres and exchange platforms. Alliance Networks seeks to simplify the digital infrastructure access by providing unified connectivity to data centres & internet exchange services with interconnected data centre and internet exchange platform solutions.

“We see a clear gap in the regional markets, for a one stop provider of digital infrastructure and connectivity, that is flexible, responsive to customer needs and reliable” said Sameer Al Wazzan, CEO of BNH.

The project will be realized in two stages. The first will see all GCC countries be interconnected, enabling it to function as a single region/country. The second stage involves plans to deploy multiple interconnected internet exchanges in the region.