Gulf Bridge inks pact with Sify for sub-sea cable system

Gulf Bridge International (GBI), the Middle East's privately-owned submarine cable operator, has signed an agreement with India's internet services firm Sify Technologies for its sub-sea cable system in India.

Gulf Bridge International also announced that Sify will provide a landing station for GBI's cable system in Mumbai.

The GBI cable system, which will connect all the countries of the Gulf region to each other, will provide onward connectivity to India and beyond via Sify's landing station.

The launch of GBI's cable system will provide telecom operators and other communications companies, both in the region and globally, with greater choice, value, diversity and resilience.

"We are delighted to announce that GBI have selected Sify to be our landing partner in India.
    
As one of India's leading internet communications companies, Sify is well placed to ensure that GBI's cable system is fully integrated into the rapidly expanding Indian domestic market," GBI's executive vice-chairman Hamad Al Mannai said.
    
"Access to Undersea Cable System will allow Sify Technologies to serve the emerging markets in Middle-East as well as African region, which are also amongst the fastest growing economies in the world.
    
This allows Sify to enable a reliable and secure information superhighway to connect the Middle-East to Asia Pacific and Americas, thus, bringing in a superior network connectivity to the Middle East and the African region.
    
Sify further strengthens its position as a leading ICT player by combining its existing data centre, network and application services with the opportunities provided by the GBI cable system," Sify Technologies CEO and Managing Director Raju Vegesna said.
    
"India and the Middle-East region have long established business ties. Today both are successful business hubs with an increasing dependency on telecommunications services, which in turn generates increased demand for international capacity," GBI's board member and CEO Ahmed Mekky said.
    
"Today's agreement with Sify will enable GBI to fulfill its mission to connect the world to the Gulf through the eastern route to India as the gateway to Asia and the western shore of the USA."