The agreement is designed to cater to the demands of corporate customers, and will utilise Gateway’s newly constructed Libyan national backbone as well as TI Sparkle’s international capacity.
The second stage of the agreement will see the introduction of domestic MPLS solutions. To support the move, TI Sparkle has also established an office in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
“We are very happy with this new partnership which adds to relevant existing relations with Libyan operators, as corporate customers’ demand for international services with Libya continues to grow,” said TI Sparkle CEO Elisabetta Ripa.
Interest from the international carrier community in the Libyan market has grown in 2013. The telecoms sector in Libya remained largely monopolised and isolated during the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi. However, since his fall, there have been rumours that the state-owned operator Libyan Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology (LIPTIC) would be privatised and the market would be opened up to new competition.
In April, Kuwaiti operator Zain confirmed its plans to enter the Libyan telecoms market, while at the start of the year the Libyan International Telecom Company (LITC) announced the commercial launch of the Silphium subsea cable system, linking Libya with Greece.
