<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi again,<DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>My answer wasn't particularly clear, thanks for correcting Mr. Osama. My earlier response was about the plans for national IX here in KSA. STC has indeed the MEIX -project, but at least so far they haven't been able to provide enough capacity there to make it useful, so at least ISU is not peering over that link currently at all.�</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Best regards,</DIV><DIV>Timo</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><DIV><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; "><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>--�</DIV><DIV>Timo Liuska <<A href="mailto:tic@isu.net.sa">tic@isu.net.sa</A>></DIV><DIV>Senior Network Consultant, Nixu Middle East FZ-LLC</DIV><DIV>Network Operations Center / Internet Services Unit</DIV><DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span"><B style="font-weight: bold; "><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology</SPAN></B></SPAN></DIV></SPAN><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Jul 31, 2007, at 11:15 , Osama Dosary ((dosary)) wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2">Hello,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2"></FONT></SPAN>�</DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2">I used to work in the Internet arm of STC, and as far as I know </FONT></SPAN><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2">STC doesn't have any plans to peer with gulf ISPs. They have already setup what they call "Saudi Internet Exchange", but they are really selling transit traffic to the middle-east. I believe that most of the gulf is now connected. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2">With regards to CITC, their plans don't�include Gulf peering, especially when that means that the content control for Saudi Arabia will be bypassed.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2"></FONT></SPAN>�</DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2">Since the�ISU function (as an International Gateway for Saudi) has now been integrated into STC, the doors are now open for the two new competitors to do International peering (ITC and Bayanat,) so they could potentially peer with the gulf.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2"></FONT></SPAN>�</DIV></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"><FONT face="Tahoma" color="#0000ff" size="2">Does that answer your question?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir="ltr" align="left"><SPAN class="812331807-31072007"></SPAN>�</DIV> <DIV align="left"><FONT face="Tahoma" size="2"><STRONG><EM>Regards,</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV align="left"><FONT face="Tahoma" size="2"><STRONG><EM>Osama I. Al-Dosary</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV>�</DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE dir="ltr" style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class="OutlookMessageHeader" lang="en-us" dir="ltr" align="left"> <HR tabindex="-1"> <FONT face="Tahoma" size="2"><B>From:</B> 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>] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Timo Liuska<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, July 31, 2007 9:14 AM<BR><B>To:</B> <A href="mailto:ncc-regional-middle-east@ripe.net">ncc-regional-middle-east@ripe.net</A><BR><B>Cc:</B> Kais Al-Essa<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [ncc-regional-middle-east] Peering<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Hi, <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV> <DIV>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.</DIV> <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV> <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV> <DIV>Best regards,</DIV> <DIV>Timo</DIV> <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV> <DIV> <DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"> <DIV>--�</DIV> <DIV>Timo Liuska <<A href="mailto:tic@isu.net.sa">tic@isu.net.sa</A>></DIV> <DIV>Senior Network Consultant, Nixu Middle East FZ-LLC</DIV> <DIV>Network Operations Center / Internet Services Unit</DIV> <DIV><SPAN class="Apple-style-span"><B style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology</SPAN></B></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV></SPAN><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></DIV><BR> <DIV> <DIV>On Jul 26, 2007, at 21:26 , Kais Al-Essa wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"> <DIV class="Section1"><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><A name="_MailEndCompose"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Hello all,</SPAN><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></A></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">It was interesting to attend the 1st MENOG meeting in Bahrain. I'm looking forward to such annual meetings.</SPAN><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">One of the interesting topics for me as an ISP Technical Manager is Peering Points.</SPAN><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">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><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">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><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Regards..</SPAN><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></SPAN></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Kais Al-Essa, Founder and Operations & Technical Services Manager</SPAN><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoPlainText" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Sahara Net</SPAN><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Consolas; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; TEXT-ALIGN: left">_______________________________________________________________________</SPAN><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P></P><P class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; DIRECTION: ltr; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; unicode-bidi: embed; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><A href="http://www.sahara.com/"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-DECORATION: none; khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><SPAN> <DIV><image001.jpg></DIV></SPAN></SPAN></A><O:P style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; TEXT-ALIGN: left"></O:P> </P><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>