Gulf Construction Online - AT&T brings latest tech to Blue City

Cables & Telecommunications

AT&T brings latest tech to Blue City

01 August 2009

THE Blue City Company 1 (BCC1) and AT&T have teamed up to design the advanced communications services and related infrastructure for the highly prestigious Al Madina A’Zarqa (Blue City) in Oman.
According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU), BCC1 will work with AT&T to develop telecommunications services that will be rolled out to residential customers and businesses in the 32-sq-km city being constructed in Al Sawadi, at a 60-minute drive from the sultanate’s capital, Muscat. BCC1 has been created to deliver Phase One of the project.
AT&T will provide expertise in areas such as product development, business modelling and technical support for advanced technologies as IPTV, Video on Demand, and other Internet Protocol (IP)-based services, as well as communications infrastructure design and network management.
“We are very proud to announce our relationship with AT&T,” says Richard Russell, PE, MD and CEO of BCC1. “At Al Madina A’Zarqa, it is our goal to provide state-of-the-art facilities to our residents and visitors. AT&T shares our vision and working with them will help us provide the highest quality and service standards. Al Madina A’Zarqa will be at par with the world’s leading cities.”
Consisting of 20 five-star hotels and housing for 200,000 residents, the development is expected to radically expand tourism facilities in Oman. By centering its economic development on tourism, trade, sports and wellness, medicine and healthcare, education and entertainment, the development is expected to generate large-scale employment opportunities for Omani nationals, promote freehold property ownership for both nationals and expatriates, and serve as a leading hub for business and leisure activities.
Al Madina A’Zarqa will give visitors the connection to the most advanced and powerful global backbone networks. “The development is very important to the country. It will be an integral part of the transformation that is going to take place in Oman, in line with His Majesty’s Vision 2020,” says Mark Fuller, chief technology officer of BCC1. “Our technology strategy will have an impact at national levels in terms of an economic and social development perspective providing a unique experience as a connected community.”
“We are pleased to take part in the creation of a new city in Oman. This is an opportune time to be part of the vision of Al Madina A’Zarqa to make this a world-class city development,” says John B Gibson, president, AT&T Middle East and Africa. “We are confident that this agreement with Al Madina A’Zarqa will provide a solid foundation to support their vision to provide advanced technologies to the new city.”
AT&T is a premier global communications holding company, providing services around the world. Earlier this year, AT&T announced plans to invest approximately $1 billion to continue building out its global network, while driving new services and network-based applications to businesses. Spurred by continued demand for business applications made possible by the proliferation of high-speed communication networks and mobile devices worldwide, the investment will focus on network infrastructure, services and support.