iPass, the Northern California-based virtual network operator and Wi-Fi hotspot aggregator, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) largest telecommunications operator. Under the terms of the partnership, hundreds of hotspots will be added to the iPass network, including locations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Khorfakkan. The UAE hotspots are located at four international airports, big-name hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton, coffee shops, and other likely destinations for travelers.
All of the Etisalat Wi-Fi hotspots will go through the iPass Enterprise Ready certification process, which includes testing for performance, reliability, and compatibility with a broad range of virtual private network (VPN), personal firewall, and anti-virus software solutions.
“The addition of Etisalat to our network is an important boost to the broadband access coverage our customers will receive when traveling to the influential emirates,” said Rene Hendrikse, Managing Director EMEA, iPass in a press release today. “With over 100,000 hotspot locations to choose from worldwide, iPass users now have more ways than ever to stay productive on the road.”
Earlier this year, iPass expanded its services to include offerings for individual consumers and SMBs. The iPass network has more than 100,000 enterprise-class hotspots around the world, as well as 3G mobile data, Ethernet, and dial-up.
For more on iPass read, “iPass Takes Care of ISP Financials,” “iPass Heads North,” and “iPass Offers Worldwide Hotspot Access to SMBs and Consumers.”Naomi Graychase is Managing Editor at Wi-FiPlanet. She has been covering technology since 1994.
