Etisalat partners with Tata Communications and Cisco to launch UAE’s first Public TelePresence room at DWTC

Etisalat partners with Tata Communications and Cisco to launch UAE’s first Public TelePresence room at DWTC

Available on a pay-as-you-use basis, the new TelePresence room will offer High-Definition Virtual Conferencing across 23 international Public TelePresence rooms, enabling higher flexibility, productivity and increased reach to businesses at reduced costs.

December 10, 2010 4:43 by Rasha Reslan

In line with its vision of increasing the reach of its customers, Etisalat today launched UAE’s first Public TelePresence room in collaboration with Tata Communications and Cisco.

Centrally located at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), opposite Hall number 3, the Etisalat Public TelePresence room will provide high definition virtual conferencing capabilities to businesses across a robust global video network. The network includes a unique network of 23 other Public TelePresence rooms, deployed by Tata Communications, in prime business capitals of the world, such as New York, London, Mumbai and Shanghai.

Etisalat has developed an interactive, 24×7 online booking system (www.etisalat.ae/telepresence ) that will enable businesses to book the Public TelePresence room for their meetings in advance. With an unmatched flexibility of connecting with up to six participants on either side of a call, and calls possible to multiple TelePresence centres worldwide, powered by Tata Communications network, the Public TelePresence room will offer an affordable and efficient alternative to attendees traveling for global meetings.

The Public TelePresence room is built on Cisco’s advanced Public TelePresence infrastructure that enables groups to meet and collaborate in multiple locations worldwide in real time. By combining high-definition video, real time audio and interior design for Virtual Meetings business executives feel as if they are actually gathered together in the same room across a virtual table, even if they are thousands of miles apart.

Commenting on the launch of UAE’s first Public TelePresence room, Abdulla Hashim. Senior Vice President, Business Solutions at Etisalat said: “Etisalat is delighted to launch UAE’s first Public TelePresence room in partnership with industry leaders such as Cisco and Tata Communications at the Dubai World Trade Centre. This deployment underscores our commitment to bring leading technologies to the UAE and offering enhanced value through innovative services to our business customers. Public TelePresence is a transformational tool that has changed the way business meetings are conducted globally, especially in an era where physical realities are paving way for virtual readiness and businesses are trying to extend their reach while aiming to reduce operational costs. ”

Apart from providing an agile connectivity option to traveling business executives, the TelePresence room will also enable enterprises in the UAE to access the TelePresence communications, on a pay-as-use basis, eliminating the need for them to up their own facilities, thus reducing infrastructure set-up costs.

Wayne Hull, Director and General Manager, Cisco UAE said: “The potential of video to change the way we do business is significant. Our collaboration with Etisalat, Dubai World Trade Centre, and Tata Communications to launch the first public TelePresence solution in the UAE unleashes the potential of video and marks yet another major landmark for Cisco in the UAE and Etisalat.

Public TelePresence rooms provide global organizations with a cost effective way to connect in virtual ‘in person’ meetings with key customers, partners and suppliers around the globe. The TelePresence solution is innovative, yet reliable and cost effective for businesses whatever their size. We look forward to roll out this solution in many more locations throughout the UAE.”

The Public TelePresence room will offer international connectivity to 23 locations, through Tata Communication’s existing network of Cisco TelePresence rooms.

“As the first public TelePresence room in the U.A.E., this launch marks another milestone for Tata Communications in the Middle East. With this new facility, executives in U.A.E. will be able to easily collaborate with colleagues, partners and customers around the globe. As part of our extensive business ecosystem, the Dubai room will connect to public and private rooms throughout our network and partner networks, spanning 23 locations across 5 continents, making the Dubai TelePresence room a truly global collaboration tool,” said Radwan Moussalli, Managing Director, Middle East and North Africa, Tata Communications.

Tata Communications now operates rooms in USA, Canada, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Kuwait, South Africa, India, The Philippines, Singapore and Australia

Issam Kazim, Director Commercial Venues, DWTC said “The Dubai World Trade Centre is pleased to partner with the leading ICT authorities, Etisalat, Cisco and Tata in providing the platform for this innovative system and technology. This state-of-the-art TelePresence room will provide added value to the 1.2 million annual global business visitors to DWTC, and will offer the business community in the UAE with a unique opportunity to connect to their global business partners.”