Dubai, UAE, 7 March 2017 – Verizon has chosen datamena, the carrier-neutral data centre and connectivity platform, as a new regional transit hub to serve Verizon customers across the Middle East.

Verizon has deployed a new Private IP node in datamena’s free-zone datacenter in Dubai, giving its customers in the UAE a direct, secure, high-performance connectivity to the company’s expansive global IP network. In addition, Verizon plans to leverage its existing global relationships with major SaaS providers to expand its service offering in the Middle East with new ‘as a service’ capabilities.

Verizon’s Private IP is a network-based virtual private network (VPN) service based on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology, enabling customers to effectively communicate over a secure, efficient, and flexible network infrastructure. Private IP is also the critical network cornerstone of Verizon’s SDN strategy: connecting users to applications, simply, securely and reliably.

"The UAE is recognized as a hub for communication solutions in the Middle East, so is a natural location for Verizon to focus its connectivity for the region,” said Peter Konings, EMEA products director, Verizon. “Our relationship with datamena demonstrates Verizon’s continued commitment to expanding access to our global PIP network. Our objective is to ensure we support our customers’ current and future communications objectives, offering seamless connectivity to their business-critical applications -- no matter where their operations are in the world.”

Launched by du in 2012 and based in the UAE, datamena offers customers a secure ecosystem of space, connectivity, infrastructure, and expertise to help them grow across the Middle East and the world Fahad Al Hassawi – Chief Commercial Officer for du, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Verizon to the datamena ecosystem of carriers, content, and cloud providers. Our datamena facility enables customers from around the globe to expand their global footprint and we look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of the data potential in the region."

Verizon is well-established in the Middle East, supporting the needs of its multinational customers with presence in the region through a mix of local partnerships and infrastructure and pan-regional professional service and customer support capabilities. Verizon also services the region through its investment in the SEA-ME-WE- 3, SEA-ME-WE4 and Europe India Gateway submarine cable networks, which land and serve the Middle East as primary cable systems.