Global broadband telecommunications company Astrolink has announced the appointment of Saed Al Khaldi as manager, business development. Al Khaldi, formerly director of Global One Communications in the Middle East and North Africa, brings extensive regional experience to Astrolink, both in consulting and in creating new opportunities in information technology and telecommunications.

"Saed is a specialist in information technology and telecommunications, with over nine years of experience in the region," said Scott Sobhani, vice president and general manager of Astrolink Middle East and Africa. "As Astrolink develops its vision of bringing ultra high-speed wireless data communications to the Middle East, Saed's appointment brings us invaluable experience to develop solutions that will provide our customers in the region with the greatest value."

Al Khaldi joined Astrolink from GlobalOne Communications, where he worked from 1995 to 2001. During his tenure as a director at GlobalOne in Jordan and the UAE, Al-Khaldi held senior positions covering management, sales, consulting, operations, design, system and services implementation and business development.

"Astrolink will change the way the world communicates. I am proud to be part of the team that is introducing its ground-breaking satellite data technology to my home markets," commented Al Khaldi.

Al Khaldi holds an MBA from Webster University in Missouri, with majors in Computer Resources and Information Management and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. In 1993, he won the IBM 100% Club award for outstanding performance.

Astrolink is owned by Liberty Media, Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, Telespazio, and TRW.

Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Astrolink will build and operate a global telecom network based on next-generation satellite technology," the company said.

"Astrolink will focus on the high-growth area of broadband data services, carrying traffic for Internet, intranet, multimedia, and corporate data networks. Customers will install small satellite dishes at businesses, to connect quickly and cost-effectively to high-speed networks. The service will be complementary and compatible with other broadband services like fibre optic transmission and fixed wireless technologies."