MTC Group wins three major awards at CommsMEA 2007 annual telecom award ceremony

Dr. Saad Al Barrak, CEO of MTC Group, was also honored with the Lifetime Achievement award for his pioneering efforts in the industry.

Hosted by CommsMEA, the leading telecommunications magazine for the Middle East and Africa, at the Fairmont Hotel, Dubai, the judging panel comprised international telecom professionals and regional industry peers.

The most prestigious award the telecom operator won was the "Lifetime Achievement Award" which was granted to Dr. Saad Al Barrak. His life-long dedication to the telecoms industry and to Africa has put an Arab telecom company on the radar screens of many governments, major financial institutions, competitor telco companies and media organizations.

Dr. Al Barrak joined MTC in 2002 and in the course of five years, the Group has expanded from a one country operator in Kuwait with 600,000 customers to a mobile operator whose geographic coverage spans across the Middle East and Africa. MTC's capitalization has multiplied more than 10 times since his appointment to exceed US $30 billion (August 2007). Last year MTC Group reported revenues of US $4.167 billion while profits rose to US$1,051 billion for 2006, a five fold increase since 2003.

"I would like to thank the organizers as well as the esteemed panel of judges for their recognition of MTC as we continue to fulfill our vision of becoming global telecommunications company," said Dr. Al Barrak. "We will continue to bring the best possible services to our 32 million customers throughout the Middle East and Africa and on other continents in the future as we continue to expand. I would like to offer and recognise our awards on behalf of MTC's distinguished people for, without them, we wouldn't be where we are today."

The citation for MTC winning "Overall Operator of the Year," said that the award was recognition of the company leading the remarkable trend of mobile communications within the Middle East and Africa. The award also recognizes MTC's rapid transition from a mobile operator in Kuwait with 600,000 customers in 2003 to a major telecom conglomerate in the Middle East and Africa serving 32 million customers in 21 countries.

This year the Group has expanded its reach with its successful bid for the third mobile licence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offering the company the opportunity to enter the biggest market in the region. Its strategic geographic position also allows the Group to provide seamless network operations across contiguous markets.

The third award, "New Telecoms Service of the Year" recognises One Network, the world's first borderless mobile network. Serving six countries in Africa - Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - it covers 160 million people or approximately 20% of Africa's population.

One Network gives all post paid and prepaid customers the opportunity to move freely across geographical borders in these six countries without roaming call surcharges and without having to pay for incoming calls.

Customers also receive the same services that they enjoy in their home country; such as voicemail and customer service in their local languages and airtime credit transfer for prepaid customers. The One Network service is automatically activated upon crossing the geographic border into one of the six countries, with no prior registration required or sign-up fee charged.

"In a region that is historically dependant on freedom of movement across borders, this service fits the needs of our customers perfectly, breaking down barriers and making life better for business, families and individuals from West to East, from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans," said Dr. Saad Barrak, MTC Group CEO.

Commenting on the service which is the first of its kind in the world, The Economist said: 'Celtel has, in effect, created a unified market of the kind that regulators can only dream about in Europe.'