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Mobily ups capacity
Mobily has hiked its concurrent call capacity in Medina by 110% to 1.2m calls, reported Arab News. The mobile operator has tripled its number of master switching centres in the city, following increased demand during this week's Hajj pilgrimage. Since the start of Eid Al Adha, Mobily has recorded 1.5m users in the area of Mina, not far from Mecca. It is expecting 500,000 users in Medina in the coming days.
Saudi Telecom, Wavetec deal
Saudi Telecom is to utilise Wavetec's electronic queuing system, eQTM, at the customer service centres for its Al Jawal mobile business. Saudi Telecom has set up four new customer service centres in Riyadh and Mecca, while ten more are expected to be commissioned by the end of the year. Leading regional firms like Etisalat and Orascome Telecom use the eQTM system.
Kenya-UAE cable planned
French-US outfit Alcatel-Lucent has signed an $82m contract to build a 4,900 kilometre submarine cable network linking the Kenyan port of Mombasa with the UAE's Fujairah, reported the AFP. The East Africa Marine System consortium, which includes the Kenyan government and the UAE's Etisalat, is behind the project; network installation should be completed by Q1 2009.
Etisalat Misr eyes $850m loan
Etisalat Misr is planning to arrange the initial segment of loans totalling around $1.8bn this year, reported our sister publication Meed. Calyon Credit Agricole is in discussions with six banks regarding a possible $850m facility and the arrangers should be mandated by the end of the year. The HSBC, Barclays Capital, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank are among the shortlisted banks; the loan would be paid in both Egyptian pounds and dollars.
du, AeroMobile roaming deal
UAE based telco operator du has signed an international roaming agreement with AeroMobile, a UK based provider of mobile phone services to airlines. AeroMobile will offer du's customers in-flight access to their mobile phones and PDAs and, operating at minimum power levels, the service has no impact on any aircraft systems or subsystems. A number of airlines should offer the service by late 2008.
MBC launches website
The Dubai based broadcasting firm, the MBC Group, has launched a new website for film buffs called Movies in Motion, reported Gulf News. The bilingual site, available in Arabic and English, includes a number of interactive features and also comprises a lot of user generated content. The site can be accessed at www.mbc.net/mim
Etisalat offers voice SMS
Etisalat has introduced a voice SMS service which will allow mobile users to send messages of up to 30 seconds in duration to other Etisalat mobile customers. To send a message, customers press the star button followed by the mobile number before hitting the call button and recording a message after the tone. Each voice SMS will cost 30 fils although a rate of 18 fils is available until December 31.
Moroccan ICT sector eyes Gulf
Moroccan information and communication technology (ICT) firms are looking to build trade relations with the Gulf, and Dubai especially, reported Gulf News. There are presently more than 40,000 people employed in the North African country's ICT sector and the industry is expected to be worth around $9bn by 2012. Moroccan firms are keen to attract foreign direct investment from Arab firms and are also looking at establishing offices within the Gulf.
Batelco offers 3.5G
Batelco is to launch its next generation 3.5G mobile network and associated products on Sunday, December 16. The firm will offer mobile broadband, video calling and it has unveiled a new mobile portal known as 'O-portal' which offers users news and sports from the likes of CNN, Al Jazeera and the BBC. The portal, available in Arabic and English, also offers ringtones, wallpapers and games.
Bill Gates to visit UAE
Bill Gates will be the keynote speaker at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum Arabia 2008, to be held 27-28 January 2008, at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, marking the first visit of the Microsoft chairman to the UAE. The theme for this year's forum is 'Accelerating Arab Competitiveness.' During the course of his visit to the UAE, Gates will travel to Dubai for a series of high-level discussions.
Telecom Egypt awards Alcatel-Lucent management contract
Alcatel-Lucent announced that it has been awarded by Telecom Egypt, the Egyptian sole fixed line operator a contract for the assessment, reengineering, and modernization of its operations and maintenance processes in order to improve its customers satisfaction.
Fortinent to protect UAE Central Bank
UAE-based Fortinet has been chosen by the UAE Central Bank to secure the bank's online services. The bank's services include its soon to be implemented Image Check Clearing System, which is the electronic system the bank will use to clear all checks that are deposited through banks in UAE. After evaluating several security vendors' solutions, the bank chose Fortinet's FortiGate-800 integrated security appliances and worked with Data Processing Systems, Fortinet's regional value-added-reseller, on the implementation.
Zain signs deal with Tejari
Zain Jordan has signed an agreement with online B2B marketplace Tejari, reported Gulf Daily News. Zain's chief executive Saad Nasir said the online technology will allow the telecom operator to reduce its procurement costs and streamline buying processes.
Vislink to open office in Dubai
Vislink, the £100m manufacturing group for the specialist broadcast and defence markets, is opening a sales and distribution office in Dubai on 1 January. Vislink Group operates worldwide, with bases in the US, UK, continental Europe and Asia. The group comprises Advent Communications, Link Research and Microwave Radio Communications Inc. The three companies are leading suppliers of microwave radio and satellite transmission products for the broadcast and security markets.
Etisalat buys stake in Excelcomindo
UAE-based Etisalat has acquired a 15.97% stake in the Indonesian mobile operator Excelcomindo, the third largest mobile operator in Indonesia. Etisalat agreed to pay $438m for the stake, implying the equity value of Excelcomindo to be $2.742bn. With this acquisition, Etisalat now operates across 16 countries worldwide.
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