ictQATAR pre-qualifies Etisalat for 2nd mobile license

Etisalat received confirmation of its selection from ictQATAR, following careful consideration of the Mobile Pre-Qualification requirements and Procedures document (MPQ) published by the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) earlier this year.

Etisalat is today operational across fourteen countries: Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Niger, Saudia Arabia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Pakistan, and the UAE. It will now enter into the next phase of Qatar's licensing process for the Second Mobile License - the Application Phase, which is scheduled to begin in July.

Financial Leadership

Etisalat follows a highly successful, opportunist investment strategy based on international best practise. In the last three years, Etisalat has led consortiums that made acquisitions and investments in excess of AED 30bn funded by a variety of innovative financial services including a revolving line of credit for AED 11bn and the world's largest sharia compliant loan for its operations in Saudi Arabia.

Etisalat's investment pedigree is shown by the increasing value of its licenses. In 2004, the penetration of mobile phones in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was around 25% and Etisalat paid approximately AED12bn for the second mobile license. In 2007, with a penetration of over 75%, a third operator was introduced at a fee of over AED 22bn. Its latest successful bid was for the third license in Egypt, for which it paid over AED 10.5bn. Etisalat Misr has since achieved 1 million subscribers in less than 2 months of operations in a market with approximately 20% mobile penetration.

Network Leadership

Etisalat is renowned for its abilities to rapidly build out, high quality, next generation networks in the harshest of environments across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

In Saudi Arabia, Etisalat established network coverage in 34 cities - double the number of locations required by the local regulator - one month before deadline. In Egypt, Etisalat achieved full coverage in 40 cities in time for launch against a requirement of only six. In the UAE Etisalat has deployed 3.5G network across 97% of the country. In Africa, Etisalat is using 3G technology to support its fixed-line services in Sudan and is also leveraging satellite telephone services from subsidiary, Thurya, to provide telecommunications coverage to remote areas of the continent.

Market Leadership

Etihad Etisalat, which has operated under the Mobily brand in Saudi Arabia since May 2005, today services over 7.2 million customers a market share of over 40%. In Africa, Etisalat's Moov brand in Cote D'Ivoir has acquired 500,000 subscribers in its launch campaign , whilst Zantel in Tanzania grew its subscriber base by 160% in one year.

Technology Leadership

Etisalat offers a diverse portfolio of services across these markets including core telecommunications services such as fixed-line and mobile voice, Internet, and cable television. It also offers a wide array of value added services, including mobile television, BlackBerry, Push Email, Video Call and personal Greeting Tunes. Etisalat has calculated it has over 33 million customers in total.

Etisalat has followed a consistent strategy of competing with new technologies and the highest levels of customer service, which has generated a reputation for offering premium quality services. Etisalat deployed the first 3.5G networks in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, bringing rich content and video call services to consumers. Etisalat is recording that approximately 75% of its Egyptian customers were accessing these data services in May and is the region's largest 3G/3.5G service provider with 1 million customers in the UAE and over 800,000 customers in Saudia Arabia.

Industry Leadership

Etisalat is renowned for its contribution to the international telecommunications industry, having introduced next-generation technologies into multiple markets - including Sudan. It is also well regarded for its positive business performance and contribution to the economies and societies in which it operates.

The Middle East magazine has ranked Etisalat first in the United Arab Emirates and fourth in the Middle East among a league table of the top 100 companies, based on its financial performance and capital growth. The corporation is named as one of the top 500 International companies based on market capitalisation according to the 'Financial Times'. It was ranked as the 4th best performing Arab company by 'Forbes Arabia' magazine in 2006, which included more than 1600 Arab joint stock companies in various sectors. Arabian Business magazine reported Etisalat as the most admired telecommunications company in the Gulf in 2007.

Etisalat has received customer service awards from Comms MEA magazine in 2006 and Datamatix and was also named Operator of the Year by Comms MEA. A recent Maktoob Research Study polled Etisalat customers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and reported that over 70% of customers in both countries were either satisfied or very satisfied with services.

Etisalat is also known for its contribution to local communities, having invested in initiatives that improve the environment, enable disabled people and help to develop a pool of talent through the Etisalat University College. Arabian Business magazine awarded the company for its exceptional contribution to local communities in its annual award ceremony in 2006.