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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Personally, I would not favor Saudi for a regional exchange. Too
many restrictions and not enough competition to derive the way forward. Bahrain
(aside from it being my country) would be a natural choice I think. Though
Saudi involvement would be key to success for the whole region.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Fahad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
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<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Hi,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal>Timo<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Timo Liuska <<a href="mailto:tic@isu.net.sa">tic@isu.net.sa</a>><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Senior Network Consultant, Nixu Middle East FZ-LLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'>Network Operations Center / Internet Services Unit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span class=apple-style-span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'>King Abdulaziz City for
Science & Technology</span></b></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><br>
<br>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>On Jul 26, 2007, at 21:26 , Kais Al-Essa wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span class=apple-style-span><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'>Hello all,</span></span></a><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'> </span></span><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'>It was interesting to attend the 1st MENOG
meeting in Bahrain. I'm looking forward to such annual meetings.</span></span><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'>One of the interesting topics for me as an
ISP Technical Manager is Peering Points.</span></span><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'> </span></span><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'>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></span><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'> </span></span><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'>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></span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'> </span></span><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'>Regards..</span></span><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'> </span></span><span style='font-size:
10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'>Kais Al-Essa, Founder and Operations &
Technical Services Manager</span></span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:10.5pt;
font-family:Consolas;color:black'>Sahara Net</span></span><span
style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
class=apple-style-span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:black'>_______________________________________________________________________</span></span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><a
href="http://www.sahara.com/"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><a
href="http://www.sahara.com/"><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:
none'><image001.jpg></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
"Times New Roman","serif";color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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color:black'><br>
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</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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