Dubai, UAE, February 26, 2015 - SAMENA Telecommunications Council has announced that Ciena® (NYSE: CIEN), the network specialist, has joined its membership, becoming the latest global technology provider to come on board the SAMENA Council platform, comprising top telecoms operator groups, leading technology providers, and specialized consulting firms.
“Ciena is a major technology player in the telecommunications networking domain, and we specially recognize Ciena's role as a key enabler in the submarine communication industry. This decision to join SAMENA Council will help create mutual value for Ciena and our members. SAMENA Council will actively work throughout this year to focus on the needs and issues of the submarine communications industry, and we look forward to actively supporting Ciena and other valued members, which are integral to the regional and international submarine communications industry, in achieving our agenda-setting goals to support the submarine cable industry.", said Mr. Bocar BA, CEO of SAMENA Council. “As a SAMENA member, Ciena can look forward to every opportunity to network with peers, broaden business horizons on a mutual basis, and take leadership role in line with SAMENA Council's organizational priorities.", he added.
Mr. Benoit de la Tour, Vice President and General Manager, EMEA, at Ciena, said, “SAMENA provides a valuable platform for telecom industry stakeholders to connect with each other and contribute to future developments in our industry. As we move towards an increasingly on-demand world, it is important that submarine networks become agile innovation enablers. New technologies such as software defined networking (SDN), alongside resilient and scalable mesh infrastructures, make this possible. We appreciate the opportunity to join SAMENA and contribute to the discussion on critical industry issues and challenges that are important to Ciena, its business partners, and its clients.”
A leading global supplier of telecommunications networking equipment, software and services, operating in the Middle East, Ciena collaborates with clients around the region to unlock the strategic potential of networks, and to fundamentally change the way they perform and compete.
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About SAMENA
SAMENA Telecommunications Council is South Asia - Middle East - North Africa (SAMENA) region’s sole operator-driven industry association that represents telecommunications service providers from around the region, and beyond. SAMENA is a not-for-profit organization, with membership comprising more than 90 leading regional and international organizations. Headquartered in the UAE, SAMENA was founded in 2006, chaired by Dr. Nasser Marafih and led by Mr. Bocar A. BA. SAMENA collaborates with leading non-profit international organizations, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the European Telecom Network Operators’ Association. With an expanding member portfolio, the Council is quickly securing strong footing in the region. SAMENA's current network consists of 25 countries from South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. However, organizations from countries of Asia Pacific, Europe and North America also form part of the SAMENA membership.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Rola Osseiran
MARCOM Director
SAMENA Telecommunications Council
Email: rola@samenacouncil.org