The MoU with OGS, the wholesale arm of Qatari operator Ooredoo, will see the two operators extend co-operation in areas such as global capacity, infrastructure and data services.
"This not only enhances HGC's capability to deliver solutions that require high bandwidth, such as 10Gpbs, but also further extends HGC's MPLS network reach in the Middle East," said Andrew Kwok, president of international and carrier business of HGC.
HGC has also signed IPX agreements with both Taiwan's Chunghwa and Japan's NTT Communications. Announced at a signing ceremony in Chicago, the partnerships with Chunghwa and NTT Communications are designed to establish multiservice IPX peering connections.
All three carriers will now have the ability to deliver greater reach to more mobile network operators and the agreement is designed to ensure that end customers can roam seamlessly across IPX platforms.
Kwok said the partnerships are important in forming IPX platforms designed to deliver IP-based mobile and next-generation services to new and existing IPX providers.
"We are excited to interconnect with operators of the stature of Chunghwa and NTT," he told ITW Daily. "We are very confident that this collaboration will enable MNO, fixed-network and application content providers to deliver traffic with the benefits of extended coverage, while adding even greater value to HGC's unparalleled international network."
HGC launched its Hutch-IPX platform in July 2012, and the service is designed to interconnect fixed and mobile operators with application services and content providers. Through the agreement, the operators will work closely on IPX peering agreements, and the three carriers will aim to enable MNOs to launch next-generation IP services.
The agreement also facilitates the provision of comprehensive IP interconnect services, including 2G, 3G and 4G data roaming, signalling, VoIP and high-definition voice and video traffic. Chunghwa's VP of international business CC Chien said that by being the first 4G operator in Taiwan, the company is aiming to deliver the best quality LTE services for its customers.
"In 2014, we have scheduled to have international voice and mobile data roaming traffic migrated to IPX platform," he said. "We are pleased to co-operate with HGC for multi-service via IPX peering connection agreements."
The three carriers claimed MNOs are now in a position to categorise and prioritise traffic over IPX networks through roaming and inter-networking partners. This will aid the ever-increasing demand for bandwidth to accommodate instant messaging, social media and VoLTE services.
Toru Maruoka, NTT's SVP for voice and video said the partnership with HGC will enable the company "to extend mutual service coverage and high quality roaming and voice to our respective customer partners and operators".
In a seperate development, HGC also entered into a MoU with Etisalat on IPX platform interconnections in the UAE. For Etisalat, the partnership with HGC adds further weight to its SmartHub initiative. The Hong Kong-based carrier will now peer on the SmartHub IPX platform and widen its coverage in the Middle East region.
