Etisalat launches the fastest broadband Internet in the Middle East with 30Mbps package

Abu Dhabi, 19 October 2009: In yet another pioneering accomplishment, Etisalat introduced the fastest fixed broadband internet in the Middle East, for its residential customers in the UAE by announcing its new 30 Mbps package. Based on the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) technology, the new package available now will significantly boost the current speed of Internet, providing unmatched experience and minimal latency to the customers, while encouraging newer avenues for internet surfing like online gaming, audio and video streaming. Etisalat has already connected over 550,000 homes in the UAE on FTTH (Fibre to the Home) network; that can now benefit from the fastest internet speeds.
Savings of AED 899 on subscribing to the 30 Mbps Package
· Free Installation
· One Month rental waiver
· 5 free email IDs in the .EIM domain with 5GB capacity,
· 8 hours per month free access into 350+ Etisalat hotspots
· Free eSupport software and Norton Internet Security software
Available in the FTTH connected areas and priced at AED 699/month, the new 30 Mbps package will also be made available for existing customers in the FTTH coverage area, who are keen on upgrading their account. Etisalat customers can also immensely benefit from the additional offers and save up to AED 899 on subscribing to this package that includes free installation, one month rental waiver, 5 free email IDs in the .EIM domain with 5GB capacity, along with 8 hours per month free access into 350+ Etisalat hotspots. In addition, that they will also get free eSupport software and Norton Internet Security software.

Commenting on the new package, Mohammed Khalfan Al Qamzi, Chief Executive Officer at Etisalat, said, "Etisalat is delighted to announce the launch of the fastest residential internet package in the Middle East. Etisalat is committed to provide the best of technology to its customers by introducing advanced technologies like FTTH in the UAE. Our FTTH network is on a fast track roll-out; Etisalat is getting read to announce Abu Dhabi as the first connected capital in the world in the coming months and aims to connect all the UAE households and premises through FTTH network by 2011, which will become yet another milestone in its own right."

FTTH will also allow Etisalat to launch a much faster package of 100 Mbps in the coming months," He added.

"FTTH is a significant technology leap for the country that will modernize the communications and telecom infrastructure and provide infinite entertainment options to the home users through its high speed network. FTTH technology has enormous scope and potential in terms of capacity, speed, and efficiency to accommodate the growing demand for bandwidth in the coming years for our residential and business customers". Al Qamzi elaborated

Essa Al Haddad, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat said," FTTH will bring about a paradigm shift in the communication sector, taking it to unprecedented levels. With its high-speed Internet offering speed up to 100 Mbps, FTTH will boost adoption of new age internet services like IPTV, Video On Demand , and online gaming, creating future smart homes. The platform will also widen the current internet scope by opening unconventional yet significant internet avenues, in areas like e-education, online health checks ups with three-dimensional view (voice, picture and data), video conferencing, and remote infrastructure management."

"Customers today require higher internet speeds for applications like audio and video streaming, online gaming etc, which propagated Etisalat to introduce the fastest internet package. This package will further strengthen Etisalat's bouquet of services in the Al Shamil offerings and provide a wider choice of speed to our customers – from 256 kbps to 30 Mbps ‎ depending on their internet usage habits and needs." Al Haddad added.

Etisalat has already connected more than 550,000 homes through FTTH since 2008 and aims to connect the entire UAE by end of 2011, connecting more than 1.4 million homes and offices.

On the other hand, Etisalat Al Shamil customers can experience an even higher internet access at no additional cost. Until November 30th, Al Shamil package subscribers can upgrade to any higher speed and enjoy it for two months, without any additional fees. For upgrade to highest speeds of 8Mbps and 16Mbps, customers will require FTTH (Fibre to the Home) connectivity. Post the offer period, customers can choose to either continue with the higher speed packages, (chargeable from the third month onwards), selectively upgrade their speeds from the various available packages or revert to their existing package, depending on their upgrade experience and requirements.

Al Haddad requested the residents of UAE to assist Etisalat In this endeavor, by allowing the Etisalat technicians to visit their homes to install the fibre optic to upgrade their network.

Customers can subscribe/upgrade to one of the new internet packages and verify if their home is connected via FTTH, by visiting the nearest Etisalat business centre, or calling 101. For further information on the service, customers can visit www.etisalat.ae/alshamil