GITEX 2012 INTERVIEWS ITU TELECOM World 2012 - Teletimes

Teletimes ReportO3b Networks announces strategic marketing alliancewith Harris CapRock to deliver high-speed, low Latencycommunications solutions to oil and gas marketO3b Networks and HarrisCapRock Communications hasannounced plans to developa strategic marketing alliancefocused on ultra high-speed, lowlatency exploration and productioncommunications capabilities.As part of the initiative,Harris CapRock plans to add O3bNetwork’s O3bEnergy solutionto its portfolio for customers inthe energy market. O3bEnergy isa satellite-delivered solution thatwill empower oil and gas companieswith latencies under 150milliseconds, unlimited, affordablebandwidth, and unrivaledoperational savings.O3bEnergy will deliver speedydata transfers, up to 2 Terabytesper day, fully capable ofsignificantly reducing time toproduction by enabling real-timeseismic surveys of oil reservesbeneath the ocean floor. O3bEn-John Finneyergy will provide fiber-like connectivityto oil and gas platformsand search vessels without themajor upfront CAPEX investments,outage concerns, lack ofmobility and lengthy ramp uptimes of fiber. Oil and gas companiesand systems integratorswill be able to easily integratethe high capacity, low latencysatellite offering to get far morefrom their existing enterprisesystems and operational budgets.The alliance extends an innovativepartnership between HarrisCapRock and O3b Networksto dramatically improve theInternet experience aboard thelargest cruise ship in the world,Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’sOasis of the Seas. The maritimeservice leverages O3b’s uniqueMedium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellitefleet and Harris CapRock’sextensive integration expertise.“Harris CapRock customersrequire unmatched voice, videoand data capabilities in someof the harshest, most isolatedand challenging conditions, andthe low latency advantages ofO3bEnergy represent an excitingnew capability for someapplications in the oil field,including seismic vessels,” saidDavid Myers, Global CommercialOfficer for Harris CapRock.“Adding the O3b Networkssolution to our portfolio willenhance customer operationsthrough better efficiencies andconnectivity.”“O3bEnergy will forever changethe way most energy companiesoperate by eliminating offshorecommunications limitations andenabling centralized IT operations,”said John Finney, ChiefCommercial Officer for O3bNetworks. “More bandwidth atlatencies under 150 millisecondswill unleash a faster and moreresponsive network capable ofrunning mission-critical businesscommunications systems andapplications across a globalenterprise,” he noted. “Theplanned alliance between HarrisCapRock and O3b representsan important, new era in oil andgas communications.”Cisco inaugurates new office in the Sultanate of OmanCisco confirmed its commitmentto support economic developmentin the Sultanate of Omanby opening its official office inthe capital, Muscat.While Cisco has had a presencein Oman for over eight years,this new development signifiesthat Cisco has firmly laid its foundationsin the region. The Gulf isa key focus for the company andits investment in Oman comes ata time when the country is experiencingexponential growth andis investing in its informationand communications technologies(ICT) sector.His Excellence Eng. Ali BinMasoud Al Sunaidy, Minister ofCommerce & Industry, Chairman,Board of Director InformationTechnology AuthorityOman, formally inauguratedCisco’s office in Oman in thepresence of Senior Vice President,Office of the President atCisco, Howard Charney and IyadAl Chammat, General ManagerCisco Oman.Utilizing the power of thenetwork, Senior Vice PresidentEmerging Theater at Cisco, DuncanMitchell was also presentthrough Cisco’s Tele-Presencetechnology services.Speaking on the occasion, H.E.Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Ministerof Commerce & Industry,Chairman, Board of DirectorsInformation Technology AuthorityOman said: “Establishing anoffice in the Sultanate clearlydemonstrates Cisco’s commitmentto its customer in theSultanate. Cisco’s presence inOman will undoubtedly lend supportto the country’s ICT sectorand economic growth overall.”“The ICT sector is set to play amajor role within the next 2-5years in Oman as it developsits infrastructure to become asustainable knowledge society.We are very committed to theOmani market and our officelaunch is a clear demonstration,”said General Manager CiscoOman, Iyad Al Chammat.November 2012www.teletimesinternational.com55