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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2>Hello,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2>I used to work in the Internet arm of STC, and as far as I
know </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2>STC doesn't have any plans to peer with gulf ISPs. They
have already setup what they call "Saudi Internet Exchange", but they are really
selling transit traffic to the middle-east. I believe that most of the gulf is
now connected. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2>With regards to CITC, their plans don't include Gulf
peering, especially when that means that the content control for Saudi Arabia
will be bypassed.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2>Since the ISU function (as an International Gateway
for Saudi) has now been integrated into STC, the doors are now open for the two
new competitors to do International peering (ITC and Bayanat,) so they could
potentially peer with the gulf.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007><FONT face=Tahoma
color=#0000ff size=2>Does that answer your question?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=812331807-31072007></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2><STRONG><EM>Regards,</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><STRONG><EM>Osama I.
Al-Dosary</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> ncc-regional-middle-east-admin@ripe.net
[mailto:ncc-regional-middle-east-admin@ripe.net] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Timo
Liuska<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, July 31, 2007 9:14 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
ncc-regional-middle-east@ripe.net<BR><B>Cc:</B> Kais
Al-Essa<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [ncc-regional-middle-east]
Peering<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Hi,
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>There has been indeed discussions about building a local internet
exchange ever since the local ISP's could select where to get their
international capacity (around last Ramadan). Before that, KACST/ISU was
effectively acting as an internet exchange in Riyadh and Jeddah. As far as I
know, CITC is one of the key parties in the decision process who is going to
build it and when. So far I haven't seen any final decisions about it, but
hopefully they'll get the decision done quickly.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Best regards,</DIV>
<DIV>Timo</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2">
<DIV>-- </DIV>
<DIV>Timo Liuska <<A
href="mailto:tic@isu.net.sa">tic@isu.net.sa</A>></DIV>
<DIV>Senior Network Consultant, Nixu Middle East FZ-LLC</DIV>
<DIV>Network Operations Center / Internet Services Unit</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=Apple-style-span><B style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">King Abdulaziz City for
Science & Technology</SPAN></B></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV></SPAN><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>On Jul 26, 2007, at 21:26 , Kais Al-Essa wrote:</DIV><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2">
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><A
name=_MailEndCompose><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Hello
all,</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></A></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">It was
interesting to attend the 1st MENOG meeting in Bahrain. I'm looking forward
to such annual meetings.</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">One of the
interesting topics for me as an ISP Technical Manager is Peering
Points.</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">During the
meeting, I didn't see any single initiative about a peering project in the
Gulf. However, I've heared about some attempts or projects, but was unable
to get anything solid.</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Therefore,
I'm sending this e-mail to the group in order to enquire if anyone knows for
sure about any peering activities between Gulf Countries for Internet
traffic and if there is anything going on with Saudi Arabia in particular. I
personally heared that STC is working on something soon, but again, nothing
was solid and I was unable to obtain clear information.</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Regards..</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Kais
Al-Essa, Founder and Operations & Technical Services Manager</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoPlainText
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Sahara
Net</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; TEXT-ALIGN: left">_______________________________________________________________________</SPAN><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><A
href="http://www.sahara.com/"><SPAN
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<DIV><image001.jpg></DIV></SPAN></SPAN></A><O:P
style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P>
<P></P></DIV><BR
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