Announcing Connect Iraq Communications Conference, Baghdad, 10-13 May 2009

Talia and Global VSAT Forum Collaborate on Baghdad Programme to Examine Strategies for Enterprise and Consumer Communications, and to Provide Training

LONDON, UK. -- 2009-03-24

Iraq’s communications infrastructure and the role of communications in enabling access to education, health, and other public services will take centre stage at the nation’s first in-country communications event. The 'Connect Iraq: Communications and Technology Conference' will be held 10-13 May 2009 at the Baghdad International Airport Hotel and Conference Centre. The conference will bring together government, local industry, international suppliers, and the user community, to address the role of satellite, wireless and fibre solutions and provide training to local service providers.

Connect Iraq is organised jointly by Talia, a UK-based communications service provider with extensive operations in the country, and the Global VSAT Forum (GVF), the trade association for the international satellite communications sector. iDirect, a leading provider of satellite-based IP communications technology, is the first confirmed industry member to sponsor the event.

'We see an important opportunity for Iraq to utilise state-of-the-art communications solutions,” said Alan Afrasiab, Talia CEO. 'By bringing key people together in country, we will highlight how communications technology helps disseminate information, and look at additional ways that technology can impact society.'

'Iraq is a nation working to rebuild itself, and reliable communications are essential to that process,' said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of GVF. 'This event will bring all of the key stakeholders together to take Iraqi development to the next level.'

'Satellite IP communications is playing a critical role in the economic, political and social development of Iraq and the entire region,' said David Harrower, iDirect’s Vice President of Sales, Europe. 'Through this conference, we can showcase success stories and best practices that are already making a major impact and accelerate communications development in a region where so much is a stake right now.'

The four-day event will feature presentations by industry leaders and governmental decision-makers, and will deal directly with the latest commercial and regulatory developments affecting Iraq's communications sector.

In addition to the conference schedule, Connect Iraq will feature the first in-Iraq GVF-certified hands-on training sessions. For more information on GVF training, visit http://www.gvf.coursehost.com.

Further information on additional sponsors and the conference schedule will be released as they become available.

About Talia

Talia is a top-tier provider of communications services. Recognised as a leading satellite and telecom provider in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, Talia engineers are experts in VSAT, wireless, and voice communications, providing network coverage, services, and support to customers worldwide. Headquartered in London with offices in Dubai, Talia is committed to excellent customer service and top-grade solutions. For more information, please see: http://www.talia.net

About GVF

GVF is the international non-profit association of the satellite communications sector. Headquartered in the UK, the organisation has a global remit to promote expanded access to fixed and mobile satellite-based solutions throughout the world. In pursuit of this objective, GVF undertakes a wide range of activities, including education & training, technical co-ordination and standards, and capacity building for progressive regulatory and policy reform. GVF’s membership includes more than 200 satellite communications organisations from more than 100 nations in every major region of the world. For further information, please contact: David Hartshorn, Secretary General, david.hartshorn@gvf.org

About iDirect

VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a subsidiary of VT Systems, is transforming the way the world gets and stays connected. The company’s satellite-based IP communications technology enables constant connectivity for voice, video and data applications in diverse and challenging environments. These include extending private networks to remote offices; supporting mobile connectivity across land, sea and air; providing rural telephony and Internet broadband; and maintaining communications in the wake of disasters and network failures. The iDirect Intelligent Platform™ integrates advanced technology into iDirect’s portfolio of hubs, routers and network management software to address the growing complexity of deploying and managing global IP networks. With more than 13 years of global satellite communications experience, iDirect serves customers in 50 countries through a diverse network of channel partners, including some of the largest satellite providers, operators and carriers in the world and seven of the World Teleport Association’s Global Top Ten. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, iDirect has offices in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. Please visit www.idirect.net.