2006
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Egypt could top IT market
UAE based IT distributor EMPA is predicting that Egypt could become the biggest market in the Middle East next year, reported Gulf News. The North African country could see more than 1m computer sales in 2007 depending on orders from the Egyptian government. This compares with anticipated order of 750,000 PCs and notebooks from Saudi Arabia.
Etisalat extends MMS reach
Etisalat has extended its multimedia messaging reach to 11 countries in the region. Subscribers can now exchange MMS with customers of Saudi Arabia's Mobily and STC - Al Jawal, Oman Mobile, Jordan's Fastlink and Umniah, Tunisiana, Bahrain's MTC Vodafone, MTC of Kuwait and Qatar's Qtel. More countries will be added in the near future.
du will cover 85% of UAE
du's mobile service will cover 85% of the UAE when it is launched early next year, with the remaining area covered under the Etisalat network, reported Gulf News. CEO Sultan Osman stressed that subscribers would not pay roaming charges in these areas and any calls would remain under du's calling plan. Under the interconnection deal panned with Etisalat last week, du can share and lease infrastructure.
Etisalat fix DFM cable
Etisalat managed to fix the technical problem which wiped out Thursday's trading at the Dubai Financial Market by around 3pm that day, reported Gulf News. The cause of the problem was a cable which had been damaged by construction work in the area. Initial reports had put the problem down to last week's earthquake in Taiwan.
Quake affects Hajj links
Tuesday's earthquake off the Taiwanese coast which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and severed several underwater cables has caused communication problems for thousands of Asian pilgrims currently undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage, reported Arab News. Internet services have been badly affected but telco providers have also had problems diverting to satellite connections. Saudi residents who use Australia's Orbit SatNet broadband service have been forced to resort to dial up connections.
Etisalat eid discount rates
UAE telco Etisalat announced that international calls during Eid Al Adha and the New Year will charged at off-peak rates. The reduced rates run from 9pm Thursday 28 December 2006 until 7am Tuesday 2 January 2007.
Asian internet woe affects UAE
Dubai Financial Market postponed its pre-opening session Thursday, due to a technical breakdown in Etisalat's main telecommunications cable for the World Trade Centre area. Internet and phone services have been disrupted across much of Asia and Australia after an earthquake damaged undersea cables, affecting millions of people. UAE internet users have reported problems on non-standard ports, such as https.
Samsung thinner chip
Samsung has developed a thinner mobile memory chip that uses around 30% less power than previous chips, CNET reports. The 1-gigabit DRAM chip is 20% thinner than existing chipsets. It will be mass produced from Q2 of 2007.
Batelco cuts IP rates for business
Batelco is reducing monthly rental rates of its single fixed IP address service for business and education customers by 80% from 1 January 2007, the Bahrain-based telco said in statement. Batelco said the move was designed to encourage business development.
NBAD installs FSC servers
National Bank of Abu Dhabi has contracted Fujitsu Services to install servers so that it can deploy its new core banking system. The deal calls for Fujitsu Services to install Fujitsu Siemens Computers' PrimePower 900 servers.
Mall of the Emirates goes WiFi
Etisalat has set up its iZone WiFi hotspots in Dubai's Mall of the Emirates. The telco says all cafes, restaurants and common areas will be covered. The system can be accessed through Etisalat prepaid cards, iZone prepaid cards, credit cards, dial up accounts , Al Shamil accounts, iZone single & multi-user subscriptions, postpaid GSM accounts and WiFi roaming arrangements, Etisalat said in statement.
Raqmiyat markets Nucleus
Nucleus Software Exports, a maker of software products for the banking and financial sector, has appointed the UAE-based Raqmiyat as its regional channel partner. Raqmiyat will be responsible for marketing NSE's FinnOne TM products.
MTC Atheer 3m subscribers
Iraq-based MTC Atheer, a subsidiary of MTC Group, has increased by 200% to 3m the number of its subscribers in the past 11 months, Bahrain Tribune reported. The company says it is investing $600m in its Iraq operations. The number of mobile users in Iraq is expected to grow from 8m to 14m by 2009, the company said.
Du nets 400,000 subscriptions
UAE telco Du has recorded around 400,000 subscriptions for mobile numbers, but services are unlikely to begin until February or March 2007, Gulf News reported. It is expecting another 100,000 reservations for numbers by launch date. Details on service and subscription charges could be revealed in late January.
Orascom, Qtel Indian bid
Egypt's Orascom Telecom and Qatar Telecom will put in a joint bid for a controlling stake in Hutchison Essar, the Indian mobile phone services unit of Hong Kong's Hutchison Telecommunications International, the Economic Times reported. The UK-based Vodafone Group PLC has said it might bid, while India's Reliance Communications and several private-equity firms are reportedly preparing bids.
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