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Zain expands On Network platform
Zain has announced the expansion of its 'One Network' platform to Egypt in a strategic partnership with MobiNil. Zain's customers in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Sudan can now benefit from 'One Network' services when visiting Egypt, the company said in a statement.
Orascom moots merger deal
Naguib Sawiris, Chairman of Egypt-based Orascom Telecom Holding SAE, the biggest mobile-phone company in the Middle East, has said that the firm may merge with a competitor by 2011, Bloomberg has reported. 'We're looking for same-sized companies,' Sawiris told a media conference in Cairo. 'There are six or seven suitors and we expect to talk to all of them. I will not join a company where I won't have a majority say. I won't sell off.'
Etisalat adds international voice SMS to service offerings
Etisalat is launching an international voice SMS service for UAE customers. Initially the service will only allow customers to send and receive international voice SMS' to and from the UAE to customers of Etisalat in Egypt. But it will then be extended to cover over 26 countries, although no date was given for when this would happen.
Raya posts lowered profits
Egypt-based Raya Technology and Communication has reported a net profit of EGP25.2m ($4.6m) in the first nine months of the year, Reuters has reported. The firm, which sells telephone handsets and runs call centres, had earned EGP41.1m in the same period a year earlier.
Software AG signs maintenance deal with STC
German IT house Software AG has signed a five-year maintenance and support services deal with Saudi Telecom (STC) for its web Methods product suite. An extension of their partnership of six years, Software AG will provide maintenance and support services focusing on the telco's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and billing systems. Billing systems are a critical component within a telco and the software will be used for developing applications and improving business processes.
Zain's Q3 profits halve
Kuwait-based mobile teleco Zain has posted a 52.8% fall in third-quarter net profit, blaming currency fluctuations and higher costs for the drop. It made KD41m for the first three months of the years, compared to KD87m for the same period last year. Net income also dropped, falling 17% to KD195.7m. However, the company said it had seen a 28% increase in active customers, to just shy of 72 million people, and a rise in consolidated revenues, rising 24% to KD1.78bn. EBITDA was also up, rising 37% to KD737m.
Vodafone Qatar warns of impending losses
Vodafone Qatar is warning that it expects to make an operating loss of around QR200m for the 2009/2010 financial year. Chief Financial Officer John Tombleson, told Reuters he expects the telco to be profitable in the following financial year. Vodafone Qatar's shares are currently trading below their initial public offering in July of QR10, closing yesterday at QR8.85.
Abu Dhabi Group sells stake in African telco business
Abu Dhabi Group is selling a majority stake in its African telecommunications business in Congo and Uganda to India's Essar Group, Reuters has reported. Warid Telecom Uganda and Warid Congo SA are valued at $318m, although the par have not said how much this deal is worth.
Qatar looks into phone number portability
Qatar's Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQatar) has set up a National Numbering Committee (NNC) to look after the implementation of a new fixed and mobile phone numbering plan. The committee is made up of representatives from Qtel and Vodafone Qatar and will additionally implement related services such as number portability. The services are expected to be launched during 2010.
Telecom Egypt profit falls 13%
Fixed-line Telecom Egypt has reported a lower third-quarter net profit, falling 13% to EGP826m ($151m), Reuters has reported. Broadband internet posted as a growth area with its data arm reporting 68% year-on-year growth in total broadband customers to 572,000. Fixed-line subscribers were 15% lower on year-on-year to 9.6 million.
Zain Africa 'not for sale'
Chris Gabriel, CEO of Zain's African division has said that Zain Africa 'is not for sale' and that it aims to become a top 10 global mobile player by 2011, Bloomberg has reported. On October 5, Zain had halted plans to sell its operations across 13 African nations at the request of potential buyers of a stake in the company.
STC Malay telco stake to fall
Saudi Telecom (STC) has said that its 25% stake in Malaysia's Maxis Bhd would fall to 17.5% after the nation's biggest mobile phone operator sells shares to the public, Reuters has reported. 'STC will announce the financial impact of the IPO on the Binariang Group after being reviewed by financial auditors,' STC said. Maxis Bhd is set to raise $3.3bn in Southeast Asia's biggest IPO ever.
Omantel's Q3 profit up 1.9%
Oman Telecommunications Co has recorded a 1.86% rise in its third-quarter net profit to RO32.8m ($85.21m), compared to a year earlier, Reuters has reported. Net profit for the first nine months of the year stood at RO105.8m, compared with RO107.4m in the same period in 2008.
Asiacell launches aircraft roaming service
Asiacell, an Iraq-based mobile phone operator, has launched its new on-air roaming service. The new service enables Asiacell's postpaid subscribers to use GSM roaming services and full voice, SMS and GPRS services while on board commercial aircraft by using their ordinary mobile handsets.
Qtel to invest $140m in Wataniya Palestine
Qatar Telecommunications (Qtel) will invest $700m over the next 10 years in the recently launched mobile phone firm Wataniya Palestine, Reuters has reported. $140m had been invested in licence fees and more than $100m in setting up the network, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Saud al-Thani, Chairman of Qtel said. Wataniya Palestine is owned by Kuwait's National Mobile Telecommunications Co., a unit of Qtel, and a holding company for Palestinian public assets.
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