Tata Comm to extend VPN facility to Egypt

Tata Communications has announced expansion of its global Virtual Private Network (VPN) service to Egypt through a partnership agreement with TE Data SAE.

A subsidiary of Telecom Egypt SAE, TE Data is Egypt's largest IP-based data communications carrier.

Tata Communications and TE Data have interconnected their Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) infrastructures, setting up multiple, redundant network-to-network interconnection (NNI) points between the two companies.

This connects Tata Communications' European and Indian networks with TE Data's facilities in Egypt, to serve customers' growing connectivity needs.

"Our agreement with TE Data is part of our larger MPLS expansion plan. It is also expansion of Tata Communications' international on-net, in-key strategic regions and emerging markets," Genius Wong, senior VP, global IP and VPN services, said

Egypt's GDP growth over the last five year has averaged at about six per cent, mainly on expanding domestic demand. The country is a major gateway for trade with West Asia and North Africa, owing to the free trade agreement between 20 African countries "" COMESA.

Following a 25-per cent year-on-year real increase in 2007, investments are growing by about 30 per cent year-on-year thus far in 2008. According to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), investments from India are expected to cross $1.5 billion by 2009.

The NNI agreement allows Tata Communications to extend its current end-to-end service capabilities by incorporating TE Data's IP MPLS network in Egypt, using more than 800 access points-of-presence.

This agreement is the latest in Tata Communications' plans to develop and expand its global coverage. Tata Communications already offers its MPLS services in 40 countries and expects to reach over 50 by the end of 2008.