<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">My understanding is that currently it's probably not very cost effective for all the ISP's in KSA to have any direct connectivity to other countries. Most of the traffic is coming anyways from Europe and U.S. and that's why there hasn't been very much progress in this issue. <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>But if we get some day the national IX here in KSA, it might offer better possibilities also for developing the access to other Gulf area countries. When all the national providers are interconnected to one logical point, it would be a perfect opportunity for some transit provider to offer interconnectivity to the Gulf area IX, whether it's located in Bahrain or in some other country. </DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"><DIV>Just my 2 cents,</DIV><DIV>Timo<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"><DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Jul 31, 2007, at 12:46 , Kais Al-Essa wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoNormal"><A name="_MailEndCompose"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">Fahad,</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></A></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">My issue is to have an Exchange for the Gulf states. Whether its in Saudi or Bahrain, it really does not make a big difference for us as benefiting ISPs.</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">However, its more logical from technical point of view to have it in Saudi due to the highest amount of international bandwidth and users is actually today in Saudi Arabia. As you know, Saudi Arabia's Internet traffic exceeds all of the Gulf countries combined !!</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">From another point, you are also right, Saudi Arabia is more restrictive in nature. Therefore, both points will have to be weighed and all parties must cooperate and coordinate to reach a solution.</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">Regards..</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">_______________________________________________________________________</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><A href="http://www.sahara.com/"><SPAN style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d;text-decoration:none;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;="" -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect:="" underline;=""><SPAN><DIV><image001.jpg></DIV></SPAN></SPAN></A><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><DIV><DIV style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm"><P class="MsoNormal"><B style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" tahoma","sans-serif";="" font-family:="" tahoma;="" font-size:="" 13.3333px;="" font-weight:="" bold;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">From:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" tahoma","sans-serif";="" font-family:="" tahoma;="" font-size:="" 13.3333px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> Fahad AlShirawi [<A href="mailto:fahad@2connectbahrain.com">mailto:fahad@2connectbahrain.com</A>] </SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:36 PM</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">To:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> <A href="mailto:menog@menog.net">menog@menog.net</A>; <A href="mailto:tic@isu.net.sa">tic@isu.net.sa</A></SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Cc:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> 'Kais Al-Essa'</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> RE: [ncc-regional-middle-east] Peering</SPAN><O:P style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">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.</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">Fahad.</SPAN><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:#1f497d;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "> </SPAN></O:P></SPAN></P><DIV><DIV style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm"><P class="MsoNormal"><B style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" tahoma","sans-serif";="" font-family:="" tahoma;="" font-size:="" 13.3333px;="" font-weight:="" bold;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">From:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" tahoma","sans-serif";="" font-family:="" tahoma;="" font-size:="" 13.3333px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> ncc-regional-middle-east-admin@ripe.net [<A href="mailto:ncc-regional-middle-east-admin@ripe.net">mailto:ncc-regional-middle-east-admin@ripe.net</A>] </SPAN><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; ">Timo Liuska</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> Tuesday, July 31, 2007 9:14 AM</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">To:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> <A href="mailto:ncc-regional-middle-east@ripe.net">ncc-regional-middle-east@ripe.net</A></SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Cc:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> Kais Al-Essa</SPAN><BR style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "><B style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; font-weight: bold; ">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "> Re: [ncc-regional-middle-east] Peering</SPAN><O:P style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13.3333px; "></O:P></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; ">Hi,</SPAN><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></P><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; ">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.</SPAN><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></P></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; ">Best regards,</SPAN><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></P></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; ">Timo</SPAN><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></P></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P></DIV><DIV><DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" helvetica","sans-serif";="" color:black"="">-- <O:P></O:P></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV><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"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">tic@isu.net.sa</SPAN></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><DIV><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></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><B style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; "><SPAN style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:" helvetica","sans-serif";color:black;="" font-weight:="" bold;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology</SPAN></SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size:9.0pt; font-family:" helvetica","sans-serif";color:black"=""><O:P></O:P></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" helvetica","sans-serif";="" color:black"=""><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P><DIV><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; ">On Jul 26, 2007, at 21:26 , Kais Al-Essa wrote:</SPAN><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "></O:P></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P><DIV><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">Hello all,</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size: 10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">It was interesting to attend the 1st MENOG meeting in Bahrain. I'm looking forward to such annual meetings.</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">One of the interesting topics for me as an ISP Technical Manager is Peering Points.</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size: 10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size: 10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">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><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size: 10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">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><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas; color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size: 10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">Regards..</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size: 10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">Kais Al-Essa, Founder and Operations & Technical Services Manager</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoPlainText"><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; ">Sahara Net</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:black; font-size: 14px; "><O:P style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 14px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><P class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="apple-style-span"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" color:black;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; ">_______________________________________________________________________</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";color:black;="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><O:P style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; "></O:P></SPAN></P><DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";="" font-family:="" calibri;="" font-size:="" 14.6667px;=""><A href="http://www.sahara.com/"><SPAN style="color:windowtext;text-decoration: none; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6667px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><image001.jpg></SPAN></SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN class="MsoHyperlink"><SPAN style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></O:P></SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" helvetica","sans-serif";="" color:black"=""><O:P> </O:P></SPAN></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P></DIV><P class="MsoNormal"><O:P style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; "> </SPAN></O:P></P></DIV></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>