Saudi Telecom Selects JDSU for IPTV Monitoring Solution

On 03.28.11, In Mobile, By Editor

After evaluating a number of competitive bids, Saudi Telecom (STC) has selected JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU) (TSX: JDU) to provide a comprehensive IPTV end-to-end service assurance solution. The solution will give STC the visibility to proactively detect and resolve IPTV service and network quality issues which will help speed repair times and ensure higher Quality-of-Service (QoS) for subscribers.

The JDSU IPTV solution was also selected by STC for its ability to effectively reduce the complexity involved in assuring IPTV service end-to-end. The solution consolidates all troubleshooting software and hardware elements and offers an easy to access, efficient view of key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify service-affecting issues throughout the entire IPTV network.

“As we face high expectations for delivering quality IPTV services, we saw the need for a much more comprehensive test and measurement solution to help keep customer satisfaction high while also reducing operational costs,” said Eng. Maziad Al-Harbi, STC general manager, Network Services Solutions. “JDSU’s IPTV solution was a winning combination — including JDSU’s successful IPTV installations, flexibility, intimate knowledge of video MPEG protocol, strong OSS experience and consultancy expertise.”

“With more consumers switching to IP-based television and video on demand, expectations for quality are higher than ever,” said Tom Smith, senior vice president in JDSU’s Communications Test and Measurement business segment. “JDSU is proud to provide an IPTV solution that combines effective scalability and exceptional quality of service to STC at this exciting stage of their IPTV service launch.”

The solution for STC is comprised of several products/services:

•             JDSU NetComplete® Home Performance Management (PM) – enables multi-play service providers to extend their service assurance capabilities into the home providing full Quality-of-Service (QoS) and Quality-of-Experience (QoE) reporting independent of access technologies used. NetComplete Home PM uses a standards-based methodology which enables flexibility, scalability and manageability of the solution.

•             JDSU MVP-200 – monitors all programs simultaneously, without scanning, and allows engineers to perform detailed troubleshooting of a selected stream or program without any interruption to monitoring.

•             The Observer RPM 400 (by Volicon) – eliminates manual, visual channel inspections, which are typically an expensive and time-consuming task. Observer RPM provides QoE analysis by automatically scanning all channels via post-set top box (STB) monitoring, logging and troubleshooting.

JDSU will also provide integration and customization of third party products as well as consulting, project management, product maintenance and training services.

By implementing the newest and most advanced technologies, STC is able to continuously upgrade its systems and introduce new and innovative services that fulfill the aspirations and expectations of its customers.

About Saudi Telecom

STC (Saudi Telecom) is the leading national telecommunications services provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. STC provides four key services: Home services which include PSTN, broadband DSL, Personal services which include mobile telephone services and value added services, Enterprise services which provide advanced business data solutions to enterprises and Wholesale services that provide network services to other local operators. In the recent years STC grew beyond its local borders and went global forming a network of business and investments in various Gulf countries, Asia, and Africa. The company is present in Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and South Africa enabling it to provide services to a bigger customer base and increasing its total number of customers externally by studying and evaluating investment opportunities. For more information, visit STC on the Internet:http://www.stc.com.sa/

About JDSU

JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU) (TSX: JDU) innovates and markets diverse technologies that enhance the way people experience the world every day. We enable fast, high-quality communications, secure financial transactions, reliable consumer electronics, green energy, differentiated brands and a host of other solutions. We provide these solutions through three business segments: Communications Test and Measurement, Communications and Commercial Optical Products, and Advanced Optical Technologies. To learn more about JDSU, please visit www.jdsu.com andwww.jdsu.tv and follow us on Twitter.

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Google introduces Gmail-to-SMS in Saudi Arabia

On 03.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Google has launched Gmail-to-SMS in Saudi Arabia, making it the first PC chat to cell text service in the country.

Google has launched this service in collaboration with Saudi TeleCom (STC). The service allows Gmail users in Saudi Arabia to send a text message from their desktops directly to a mobile phone via SMS. The phone user can then reply to the message which will be sent to the Gmail users interface.

Using the service, users must type the phone number of the person they are trying to contact into the new SMS box in Gmail and press send. Numbers can also be stored in the Gmail address book.

According to Google, the service will support all cellular networks in the country and charges will apply for any communication between a phone and PC, SMS Gmail chat is free from PC to phone.

 

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BroadHop and Saudi Telecom Present on Unique Policy 2.0 Service Deployment at Management World Middle East

On 03.18.11, In Mobile, By Editor

BroadHop, Inc., the leader in next generation policy control platforms for telecom operators and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the leading Middle East telecommunications operator, will present a real world success story on how implementing a Policy 2.0-based value added service improves customer experience, reduces churn and increases loyalty, at this year’s TM Forum Management World Middle East held March 22-23, 2011 at the Hilton Jumeirah, Dubai.

Ahmed Alshaia, Section Head, Data and Broadband VAS, STC and Kishen Mangat, Vice President of Solutions and Co-founder, BroadHop, Inc., will present on Wednesday, March 23 at 9:25 a.m. as part of the Customer Experience track. Session attendees will hear about STC’s unique and highly personalized ‘Prayer Time’ service and how BroadHop’s Quantum Network Suite – enables the delivery of more innovative services and capabilities, including real time parental control, granular content filtering, and flexible pricing.

As a key operator in the region, STC offers a diversified set of network access capabilities to its customers via xDSL, FTTx, WiMAX and GPRS/3G and upcoming LTE services. By using Policy 2.0, STC has been able to monetize subscriber traffic streams, enhance the subscriber user experience, offer personalized services as well as control the explosion of bandwidth growth within its network. Mr. Kishen Mangat and Mr. Ahmed Alshaia will cover the key areas of how Policy 2.0 addresses today’s operator needs including:

  • Service velocity
  • Complexity in delivering innovative services
  • Back end monetization gap
  • Integration challenges
  • Scalability & Performance — enabling service complexity, while protecting the control plane
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Saudi Telecom increases stake in Indonesian subsidiary ‘Axis’

On 03.15.11, In Mobile, By Editor

­Saudi Arabia based Saudi Telecom has announced that it has increased its stake in the Indonesian mobile network, Axis to 80.1% from 51% percent. The company brought the stake from fellow shareholder, Malaysia’s Maxis Communications, who have reduced their holding to 14.9%.

STC will manage and operate Axis and appoint all the members of the board of directors.

STC will also offer a US$81 million loan and is committed to offer another US$290 million when necessary as part of the mobile network’s five-year plan. Maxis will cancel its loans to Axis totaling US$412 million.

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Saudi Telecom partner with Level 3 for international IP and content distribution services

On 03.01.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Saudi Telecom (STC) has announced that it has formed a long term partnership agreement with Level 3 to facilitate international IP and content distribution services in Saudi Arabia. This service will also be available across the Middle East.

To provide significantly enhanced connectivity and breadth of services to customers connecting to the Middle East, the agreement leverages the respective strengths of each company. Content customers in the Middle East will have the ability to distribute their content across both STC’s and Level 3′s international networks. Both US and European CDN customers will have access to a new broadband market in the Middle East.

With multiple submarine cable systems and a terrestrial cable system, Saudi Telecom is the only Middle East operator to have the international connectivity.

According to James Heard, President of European markets at Level 3, leveraging STC’s terrestrial connectivity in eight Middle Eastern countries, combined with the broad reach of Level 3′s international IP and CDN networks, they are able to expand their offerings to new and existing customers around the world. They have worked hard over the years to build out their international connectivity, and this agreement with STC is an important next step in expanding that connectivity.

At various points of presence (PoPs) across Europe, Level 3 is also providing STC with increased IP connectivity in the form of multiple 10 Gigabits per second (GBPS) ports. The company has a strong history of commitment to Middle East service providers. Level 3 allows for greater connectivity to the Middle East and Africa through its existing PoP site in Marseille as well as more than 300 other PoP locations across Europe.

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STC Demonstrates Thought Leadership At Mobile World Congress

On 02.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

As Platinum Sponsor of the Ministerial Program at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, STC participated with government ministers and global CEOs in a roundtable discussion on the impact of the telecom industry on the economy and the role of policy makers in encouraging further investment in this field.

Group CEO Engineer Saud Al Daweesh and Ghassan Hasbani, CEO International Operations, represented STC in the discussion.

“We believe that telecommunications services are key contributors to economic development and policy should focus on providing clarity and stability in regulatory frameworks to encourage higher levels of investments in the sector,” said Al Daweesh, commenting on the key points raised in the meeting.

In addition, STC addressed an audience of global industry leaders and policy makers at the Leadership Summit held during the Mobile World Congress.

The speech focused on the role of regulators and policy makers in ensuring that the industry continues to attract investments through fair regulation and usage of infrastructure, allowing access to a wide subscriber base with appropriate classes of service that suit their usage patterns at affordable cost.

STC presented a paper demonstrating the direct impact of innovation in telecommunications on global economic cycles and outlining the key challenges for the sector today.

On the third day of the Mobile World Congress, Ghassan Hasbani, Chief Executive Officer of STC International Operations, presented the company’s view on global Mergers and Acquisitions developments in which he indicated a revival of investment in the sector, although not at the same levels seen in 2006. He also expected further consolidation in the industry, with increased competition, substitution of main revenue sources and pressure on cost management.

During the panel discussion, Hasbani shared the experience of STC in operating across multiple markets.

STC also participated in a World Economic Forum Telecommunications Global Agenda meeting held in Barcelona in parallel with the GSMA Congress. It was attended by a large number of industry leaders and discussed issues related to mobile banking and mobile health services among other topics such as personal data exchange policies.

STC is a telecom industry partner with the World Economic Forum and has a seat on the Global Agenda Council among leading organizations from the industry.

“This Council serves to provide an industry view to global leaders and it is very important that our region is well represented through STC’s membership,” said Ghassan Hasbani, who represents the organization on the Council.

Executives from STC held several meetings with telecom ministers, technology vendors and telecom operators at which various operational and strategic matters were discussed including policy, regulation and technology evolution.

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STC launches two unique services taking saudi homes into the modern era

On 02.05.11, In Mobile, By Editor

At a press event held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, STC launched its multimedia services and Fiber to the Home service (FTTH) in the Kingdom and at the same time launched new sports packages using Invision, the interactive television service from STC.

STC also launched VERVE, the commercial name for its FTTH service, and introduced two new internet speeds of 40 and 100 mb for the first time in the Kingdom. The event was hosted by Eng Saud Al Daweesh, STC Group CEO, and attended by key representatives from various media.

The press conference commenced with a visual presentation of the newly launched services and a detailed explanation including features, benefits, and method of subscription. The presentation also highlighted both Verve and Invision services, both of which will contribute to making a complete transformation in people’s homes by providing real internet with very high speeds, allowing all members of the family to enjoy applications such as interactive online games, video conferencing, e-learning, medical services and shopping as well as a wide array of other key benefits.

Eng. Al Daweesh highlighted the Company’s great efforts in availing high speed internet services to its customers, truly reflecting STC’s commitment to offering real and integrated internet services in the Kingdom. He went on to state that in 2010 STC underwent a quantum leap in both quality and expansion of broadband services in the Kingdom, being the first in the Middle East and North Africa to launch the 100 mb package using the FTTH service. This service links customers’ homes with the modern and highly advanced FTTH network at very high speeds and at the same time offers high quality and efficient internet services which are the best in the world.

The CEO of STC also said that the Company has been highly successful in implementing a series of plans to develop broadband services bringing them within reach if all customers in the Kingdom at very affordable prices.

Eng Al Daweesh explained that VERVE is the first of its kind in the Kingdom and will revolutionize broadband services, opening up new opportunities for customers using the internet on a wider scale including all broadband applications. These internet services are the best in terms of quality and efficiency and enable customers to experience real and safe internet functions including browsing, data transfer and uploading using current and future applications at very high speed, making this new technology the customers’ first choice in the future.

He went on to state that launching VERVE is in line with the Company’s keen interest to provide modern and integrated services, especially in broadband, which are geared towards meeting customer expectations and achieving a high standard of customer satisfaction. VERVE is presented in two packages: the 100 mb and the 40 mb, both at affordable prices.

He also emphasized that STC’s success in launching the new Fiber to the Home service is a key milestone for internet services in the Kingdom, reinforcing STC’s pioneering role in broadband in Saudi Arabia. Eng. Al Daweesh reaffirmed the Company’s continuous quest to availing its financial, human and technical resources to provide the best and most comprehensive services for the community and to contribute to propelling the Saudi economy forward.

He continued by pointing out that Fiber to the Home is the new generation of broadband services and will open new vistas for customers in terms of internet usage in various fields, providing features and benefits that allow them to enjoy content, multi-play, IPTV and other services.

Eng Saud Al Daweesh also stated that the new Invision IPTV represents another quantum leap in telecommunications in the Kingdom, enabling customers to experience television, telecommunications and internet all in a new and modern approach that will drastically change television viewing in the Saudi home.

He said that the launch of Invision is a prime example of STC’s robust and modern infrastructure that is built on modern technologies and matches the most advanced in the world.

Eng. Al Daweesh added that the sports packages (Invision Basic, Invision Naqaa) come as part of the Company’s care for its customers in general as well as special interest groups such as sports enthusiasts and announced that STC plans to launch more channels and choices that will provide a variety of programs including the most famous sports championships, both local and international, with unmatched viewing quality.

Eng. Saud Al Daweesh also announced that a formal agreement has been signed with Al Jazeera Sports Television, combining Al Jazeera Sports Channels to the Invision packages, adding that Al Jazeera Sports was selected due to its leadership as one of the highest viewed channels in the Arab world.

He concluded by saying that STC is working diligently to continuously enhance Invision services by providing its customers’ with enriched content and innovative services such as buying and receiving goods without having to leave home and receiving You Tube directly on their television screen.

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STC launches Java Facebook App (Saudi Arabia)

On 01.31.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has launched a separate application for mobile devices and smartphones that support Java based applications, letting them access the world’s largest social network.

The number of Saudi users on Facebook is estimated to be around 3.3 million, and the majority of those are still using devices that run Nokia’s aging Symbian operating system.

To make the most of Facebook’s popularity and increase user interaction on the platform, the  company is providing a fully interactive Java based application that it states is optimized to use as little data as possible while providing the great user experience mobile applications offer.

Using minimal data is the punch line here as STC’s main objective is likely to be to increase data usage, even for users on relatively older mobile devices.

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STC selects Alcatel-Lucent for broadband access network expansion

On 11.23.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Alcatel-Lucent today announced that it has signed multi-million Euro frame contracts with STC (Saudi Telecom Company), the main telecommunications carrier in Saudi Arabia, to expand its broadband access network.

This large-scale project – leveraging Alcatel-Lucent’s leading VDSL2 and GPON technologies – will enable STC to provide state-of-the-art, bandwidth-demanding applications to its customers and expand the reach of its network while benefiting from enhanced aggregation and transport capabilities.

“As a major operator, STC is committed to provide its customers with the latest high-speed broadband services with the highest quality of service,” said Dr. Zeyad Al-Otaibi, STC’s vice president Networks. “We are confident that Alcatel-Lucent’s unique network expertise and the high technical competence of its local team will provide us with a superior – though cost-effective – upgrade of our broadband network, enabling us to continue to achieve this goal.”

Alcatel-Lucent will deploy the industry’s most renowned IP access solution: the Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) platform – supporting DSL and GPON technologies and a cornerstone of Alcatel-Lucent’s High Leverage NetworkTM :

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/hlnarchitecture. Alcatel-Lucent’s ISAM family of IP access products enables the seamless and cost-effective delivery of high-speed broadband multimedia services to mass markets – such as high-speed data, IPTV, VoIP and content-on-demand.

Next to the deployment of its 7302 ISAM with advanced voice capabilities and its 7342 ISAM FTTU, Alcatel-Lucent will also provide a comprehensive range of professional services to STC – including network design, deployment, installation, commissioning, testing and full project management support.

“Thanks to the flexibility of Alcatel-Lucent’s ISAM platform we can help our customers manage and evolve their networks cost-effectively and make sure they meet end-users’ growing bandwidth needs,” said Adolfo Hernandez, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in Europe, Middle-East and Africa. “This project further strengthens Alcatel-Lucent’s long-term relationship with STC as we remain committed to deliver our best-of-breed solutions and global services expertise to the Saudi market,” he added.

Alcatel-Lucent is the worldwide leader in fixed broadband access, supporting the largest mass deployments of video, voice and data services. Today, one out of three fixed broadband subscribers around the world is served through an access network provided by Alcatel-Lucent. Alcatel-Lucent is currently involved in over 100 FTTH projects worldwide, over 85 of which are with GPON, and is the driving force behind the world’s most advanced VDSL2 roll-outs.

About STC

STC (Saudi Telecom) is the leading national telecommunications services provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. STC provides four key services: Home services which include PSTN, broadband DSL, Personal services which include mobile telephone services and value added services, Enterprise services which provide advanced business data solutions to enterprises and Wholesale services that provide network services to other local operators. In the recent years STC grew beyond its local borders and went global forming a network of business and investments in various Gulf countries, Asia, and Africa. The company is present in Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and South Africa enabling it to provide services to a bigger customer base and increasing its total number of customers externally by studying and evaluating investment opportunities. For more information, visit STC on the Internet: http://www.stc.com.sa/:

http://www.stc.com.sa/

About Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) is the trusted transformation partner of service providers, enterprises, strategic industries such as defense, energy, healthcare, transportation, and governments worldwide, providing solutions to deliver voice, data and video communication services to end-users. A leader in fixed, mobile and converged broadband networking, IP and optics technologies, applications and services, Alcatel-Lucent leverages the unrivalled technical and scientific expertise of Bell Labs, one of the largest innovation powerhouses in the communications industry. With operations in more than 130 countries and the most experienced global services organization in the industry, Alcatel-Lucent is a local partner with a global reach. Alcatel-Lucent achieved revenues of Euro 15.2 billion in 2009 and is incorporated in France, with executive offices located in Paris. For more information, visit Alcatel-Lucent on the Internet: http://www.alcatel-lucent.com:

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/, read the latest posts on the Alcatel-Lucent’s blog http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog:

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/blog and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent:

http://twitter.com/Alcatel_Lucent.

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Viva signs USD270 million deal with Huawei (Kuwait)

On 05.12.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: USD270 million vendor financing deal has been signed by Viva with Chinese telecoms equipment manufacturer Huawei. The deal is for five years.

STC launched the Kuwaiti mobile operation, Viva in 2008 and the company competes with Zain and Wataniya in Kuwait. The deal will help the firm for funding network expansion using the latest technologies.

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