LONDON -- Interoute, owner of Europe’s most advanced next-generation network, and du, the new telecommunications operator in the UAE, have further extended their partnership in the region by delivering the Middle East’s first voice exchange. Based on Interoute’s Arena technology, the new Virtual Voice Network (VVN) gives carriers in the region the ability to exchange traffic securely and flexibly with over 200 operators from more than 75 countries worldwide.

At present Arena carries in excess of 250 million international minutes per month and is forecast to carry over four billion voice minutes in 2007. Current customers include many of the world’s largest carriers such as BT, AT&T, Telenor and Indian Mobile Operator Bharti. The service is accessed through one of Interoute’s 240 International Points of Presence (POP) across Europe, the US, and now the Middle East.

Osman Sultan, CEO of du, said: “We aim to be the partner of choice for telecommunications in the UAE, as well as the gateway to the Middle East for carriers from Europe, the US or Asia Pacific. du’s continuing work with Interoute means Arena now includes over 200 global members, who now have the capability to trade with carriers across the Middle East. We are confident Arena will further enhance Dubai's status as the major telecoms hub in the region."

Interoute Communications Ltd.

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Co. (du)