LINX Welcomes Etisalat

LONDON -- The London Internet Exchange (LINX) now connects the networks of 210 Content Delivery and Internet Service Providers across the world.

With members in Europe, Africa, North America, South East Asia and the Middle East, LINX can genuinely claim to be a worldwide organisation whose extensive global reach continues to encourage the leading networks to peer at LINX.

Membership has increased a staggering 32% over the last 12 months with MTN Network Solutions, Qube Networks, Tavitex, Catalyst2 Services, Alta Tecnología en Comunicaciones, Econet Carrier Services, EuroAccess, Init Seven AG, IT Inside Out, Open Hosting and Etisalat all joining in 2006 alone.

Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, or Etisalat, is based in the United Arab Emirates, and is LINX's 210th member and the first from the Middle East. The company, formed in 1976, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. They provide voice, wireless and data telecommunication services to the UAE and is one of the leading service providers in the entire Middle East.

The company was one of the first to introduce Mobile Telephones in the region as far back as 1982, and their GSM Service was launched in September 1994. Etisalat's rate of growth has been very impressive to say the least with their subscriber base of 130,000 at the end of 1996 increasing to well over 4.5 million mobile users currently, a penetration rate that has exceeded 95 per cent.

Mr. Saeed Al Bahhar, General Manager - International Business, of Etisalatsaid: "By joining LINX, Etisalat gains access to all the member ISPs from a single location which is very important to us in our drive to maximise our network efficiency."

Mr. Al Bahhar added: "Our commitment to top quality connectivity will be a positive incentive to existing and potential customers so being part of LINX makes great commercial sense."

The London Internet Exchange Ltd. (LINX)