China Telecom (News - Alert) Europe (CTE) says it wants to build an “Information Silk Road” – in reference to a trade route– which links Europe, China, East Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The company was launched in 2006, and CTE now has an expanding number of customers in the region who are offered communication solutions and services. Among its offerings are: CTExcelink, which includes managed communication services involving the EMEA region, China, the Asia-Pacific region and other locations. Another key offering is CTExcelbiz, which is targeted for business operations in the same locations.

To show how CTE continues to expand, the company recently selected Etisalat's (News - Alert) Smarthub for data services and network capabilities. It will help the company expand in the Middle East market, according to AMEinfo.com. There is already an increasing presence of Chinese companies in the Middle East, such as in the United Arab Emirates. The new product will provide them advances in MPLS (multiprotocol label switching) and high-speed IPLC (international private leased circuit), the report said.

"China Telecom and Etisalat have been partners since 1998 and it is an achievement that China Telecom Europe has also joined as a partner,” Ali Amiri, executive vice president, Carrier & Wholesale Services, Etisalat, said in a statement carried by AMEinfo.com. “This agreement further deepens this strategic relationship to ensure we continue to collaborate closely to provide exceptional data services to our customers.”

Also, Li Cao, CTE’s managing director, said the selection of Etisalat takes “regional connectivity and services to the next level. Smarthub will enable us to provide advanced communication services for our customers in the Middle East region. The rising significance of UAE's strategic position as the communication network hub for the Middle East and Africa region underpins the importance of this partnership in our expansion plan."

CTE’s overall expansion efforts are getting recognized by others, too. Last year, Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) presented its European Market Challenger: Asia-Pacific Telecoms Service Provider of the Year Award to CTE, TMCnet reported. The award honors the performance and success of Asia-Pacific region-headquartered telecom companies which offer services in Europe.