Two of Qatar’s leading enterprises today launched a long-term technology partnership that will help drive the quality of the country’s aviation infrastructure to advanced new levels.
Qatar Airways and Qtel completed the agreement which will see Qatar Airways’ data centre infrastructure migrate to Qtel’s new-look data operations facilities.
The agreement was signed by Qtel Chairman H.E. Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani and Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker during a ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha this evening.
The systems that drive all of Qatar Airways’ businesses – including flight operations, finance, human resources and internet bookings – will be operated from the Qtel Data Centre and will be managed by Qatar Airways’ IT department ensuring comprehensive connectivity and security for the award-winning Five Star airline.
Qtel Chairman H.E. Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani said: “We are delighted to sign this partnership agreement which will provide us with a firm basis to grow and develop together. Qatar Airways and Qtel are both globally-minded companies that see strong potential for international expansion at the same time as understanding our responsibilities to the people of Qatar. This shared vision forms the heart of the technology partnership that we have agreed today.”
Under the terms of the 15-year partnership, the two companies will work together to implement pioneering Data Centre solutions for the aviation sector, building on Qtel’s track record as a specialist in research and managed services.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker added: “Qatar Airways continues to strive forward with ambitious expansion plans for our operations around the world. We require the strongest possible technological backbone to enable us to realise these ambitions.
“Qtel is a leading provider of communication solutions. We are confident they will be able to provide Qatar Airways with the best levels of support we need today to maintain and grow our business and enable us to reach new heights over the lifespan of this long-term partnership.”
During the first phase of the strategic relationship, Qtel will support the migration of Qatar Airways’ IT systems from its data centre at the airline’s Doha headquarters over to Qtel’s dedicated facility in the Qatari capital.
Qtel will provide a controlled environment that optimises the deployment of key components such as power, cooling, and networking systems to ensure the systems are fully scalable to Qatar Airways’ growing requirements.
For the next phase, Qtel may enable the establishment of a secondary site as a backup for the main centre, and the creation of a global data recovery site for Qatar Airways outside Qatar. With this extended facility, Qtel will be able to ensure that Qatar Airways’ operations can function at the highest levels without the threat of interruption or data loss.
Qatar Airways’ international operations will benefit from the support of the network connectivity provided by Qtel’s strategic partnership with AT&T, which positions Qtel’s Qatar Data Centre in Doha as the key Middle East node within AT&T’s global network.
Building from these firm foundations, Qtel and Qatar Airways will research the potential benefits of new technology solutions to reduce costs and drive efficiency. This relationship will provide Qatar Airways with a distinct strategic advantage to ensure its long-term competitiveness.
Qtel was selected as the primary technology partner following an international review by Qatar Airways, which saw them assess the capabilities of some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated providers. Qtel distinguished its offering through its state-of-the-art data centre and strong track record in hosting and managing data recovery services for corporate customers.
Photo caption: (left to right) Qtel Chairman Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani and Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker exchange the long-term technology partnership that will help drive the quality of the Qatar’s aviation infrastructure to advanced new levels.
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About Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world operating a modern fleet of 64 aircraft to 83 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Far East and North America. The Doha-based airline currently has more than 200 aircraft on order worth over US$30 billion. Qatar Airways is due to move to the New Doha International Airport in 2011, when the first phase of the new facility opens.
Qatar Airways is one of only six airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways' cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the sixth year running in 2008 and the airline was voted Best in the Middle East for the third year in a row following a survey of more than 15 million passengers worldwide.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
