2006
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iHorizons R&D at QSTP
Qatar-based software company iHorizons will set up a research and development company at the Qatar Science & Technology Park, The Peninsula reported. The company says it plans to develop software applications that take advantage of new technologies by firms such Skype and YouTube.
IT aviation spend to grow 20%
Spending on IT in the UAE's aviation sector will grow 20% annually to reach around $80m by 2010, according to UAE-based Itqan. The IT specialist has recently signed an MoU with Spain's Indra International, which makes IT applications for defence and air traffic management systems.
Etisalat, 25% of Egypt mobiles
Etisalat wants to take around 25% of the Egyptian mobile phone market over the next three years, which is expected to grow to 40m subscribers, according to CEO Mohammad Hassan Omran, quoted by Reuters. A consortium led by the UAE-based Etisalat bought Egypt's third mobile licence for $2.9bn in July 2006.
Intel Innovation Centre at DIC
Intel chairman Craig Barrett has officially opened Intel's innovation Centre at Dubai Internet City. The centre will focus on showcasing technologies such as digital health, education and cities, and IT research. It is part of Intel's digital transformation initiative for the Middle East, designed to build a more competitive regional IT workforce.
Six qualify for NFWS bid
Six of the nine bidders for the Bahrain's National Fixed Wireless Services have met the qualification criteria, Bahrain tribune reported. They are ATCO Clearwire Telecom Limited, Bahrain Telecommunications Company, Etisalcom Wireless Co, Mena Telecom, MTC-Vodafone Bahrain and Reliance Communications Limited. The financial bidding will open on 13 December.
Wataniya, Palestine mobiles
Wataniya International is partnering with Palestine Investment Fund to set up a mobile operator in Palestine. It will eventually own 40% of the mobile company, with PIF owning 30% and 30% offered to the Palestinian public through an IPO. Wataniya won the JD251m licence in September 2006. The name of the new company and its board will be announced in the near future.
Etisalat more on broadband
UAE telco Etisalat claims it has signed up 12,000 new broadband subscribers in the past three weeks, due to special offers. Etisalat now offers a time-based service, a bundled laptop deal, and a one year contract option. The Al Shamil service includes storage, and Norton anti-virus and firewall software.
Multiple mobile lines for Saudis
An Arab Advisors Group survey of cellular phone users in Saudi Arabia has revealed that 39.6% have more than one line, with more than half of these choosing to have the second mobile line from a different network operator. The need for separate business and personal lines was the main reason for 53.9% of those having more than one line, while cost savings was a reason for 22.8% of respondents.
IDA Singapore to Doha
Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority is to set up a Middle East office in Doha, according to TradeArabia. IDA chose Doha as it already has a close collaboration with ictQatar. IDA will target e-government, infocomm security, healthcare, education, financial and telecommunications services; IDA will also look for joint ventures between Qatari and Singaporean companies.
Irancell, Hua discussions
Irancell, Iran's second mobile provider, and China's Hua have been holding discussions about the production of base station transceiver and base station controller systems, reported the Tehran Times. A senior official from Irancell told the ISNA news agency that talks concerning the setting up of assembly lines in Iran had gone well. He added that the manufacture of other communication products was also possible.
Cedarcom deploys MOBI
Lebanese telco provider Cedarcom is to deploy MOBI, the mobile broadband wireless access network in Lebanon and the Middle East, using the Kyocera Corporation's iBurst technology. The MOBI service is available initially within Greater Beirut and Jounieh, while Tripoli, Faqra and Faraya should follow within two weeks. Cedarcom is rolling out the MOBI service in partnership with ISPs Cyberia, IDM, Sodetel, LYNX and Broadband Plus.
FVC appoints Seven Seas
FVC, the authorised distributor in the Middle East and North Africa for Polycom, TippingPoint, Packeteer, Barracuda, Dilithium, Postini and Vaddio, has appointed Seven Seas Computers as its authorised reseller of Barracuda Networks in the UAE. Barracuda Networks specialises in products that protect servers against spam, viruses, phishing and spyware.
Warid Telecom, Uganda deal
The Uganda Communications Commission has awarded a mobile phone licence to the local division of Abu Dhabi's Warid Telecom, reported Bloomberg. Warid Telecom Uganda becomes the fourth operator in the country and it is expected to try and drive down prices. Warid is to spend around $200m setting up a network for an intended 1.5m subscribers which could grow to 4m within five years.
Jordan, WiMAX mobile block
Jordan's government will not grant a mobile phone licence to whichever firm wins an upcoming bid to provide WiMAX services in the kingdom, reported the Jordan Times. Fourteen companies are to bid to offer the wireless Internet technology. Jordan's telco regulator does not want the winning firm offering cheap online cell phone calls and impacting the country's competitive mobile market.
92,000 Internet users in Oman
The number of Internet subscribers in Oman has reached 92,126, reported the Times of Oman. Figures released by Omantel, the exclusive Internet service provider in the country, showed that more than 12,000 of these users subscribed to hi-speed services. Almost 50,000 of Internet users in Oman still use a conventional dial-up service, with 24,000 others opting for pre-paid cards.
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