DOHA, Qatar -- FLAG Telecom, a leading provider of international wholesale network transport and communications services, today announced that Omantel, the national telecoms operator in Oman, has signed a dual landing station agreement for the FALCON cable system. This new high-capacity resilient loop will provide multiple landings throughout the Gulf region, with submarine links stretching to Egypt in the west and to Hong Kong in the east. The Gulf loop and east and west links will interconnect at two landings in Oman. Omantel has also signed a capacity agreement with FLAG Telecom, purchasing international connectivity on the FALCON cable system, providing direct connectivity to any point on the FLAG global network.

Engineer Mohammed Bin Ali Al Wohaibi, Omantel Executive President said: “Oman is geographically ideally located at the heart of the FALCON route, providing important communication links from the world’s business centres to India and Asia to the east and to Egypt in the west. We are looking forward to the introduction of FALCON project and anticipate that it will meet the burgeoning broadband demand from the fast growing Gulf and wider Middle East region not just for this decade, but for the decade beyond.”

Patrick Gallagher, CEO, FLAG Telecom, said: “FALCON will bring enormous amounts of capacity to a region previously underserved by international connectivity. Oman is now positioned to be a new regional hub for the advanced broadband communication services to be carried on FALCON. The new cable system is designed to unlock the broadband opportunity along the entire route and provide the first direct terabits/s link between the world’s two fastest growing economies – India and China.”

Walid Irshaid, President, Middle East and Africa, FLAG Telecom, said: “We are delighted to have concluded this agreement. FALCON will be the only cable system to provide fully protected services within the Gulf and will allow direct international connectivity from the region to the main business centres around the world for the first time. We look forward to gathering again next year in Muscat to celebrate the inauguration of the FALCON landing station.”

FLAG Telecom Group Ltd.

Oman Telecommunications Co. (Omantel)