2007
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Du charge card offers incentives
UAE-based telecom operator Du has unveiled a new recharge card that provides incentives for customers who use the credit within a limited time, reported Gulf News. The firm's new WoW card, short for "With More Credit Or With More Time," includes a 20% bonus credit, or customers can choose an alternative option to use the card at its face value without any time constraints. Customers must simply enter a set code for either option when they refill their account.
Mobily doubles internet speeds
Mobily (Etihad Etisalat) says it has launched a new modem and data service that will double mobile broadband Internet speeds in Saudi Arabia, reported Khaleej Times. The company said the new 7.2 Mbps modems and data service SIM cards will be available in three different packages and are compatible with almost all personal and laptop computers using Windows.
Omantel royalties cut
Oman Tele-communications (Omantel) has nearly doubled its net profit in Q3 after royalties were cut by the government, reported Reuters. Omantel was up by $88.41m or 92.4% compared to last year's. The royalties were cut from 12% to 7% on mobile revenue and 10% to 7% for fixed lines.
Arab Telsat opens in Oman
The Arab Telsat 2007 Conference and Exhibition is opening today at Oman International Exhibition Centre in Muscat. More than 30 companies have signed up for the event to present a wide range of technologies including microwave radio systems, advanced security solutions, fibre optic cables and accessories, solar equipment, networking systems and solutions, wireless applications and satellite communication services.
Egypt's ITIDA joins WITSA
Egypt's Information Technology Development Industry Agency (ITIDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) to become a founding partner of the WITSA. Through the agreement, Egypt hopes to get more foreign direct investments to establish as an ICT hub in the Middle East. Egypt currently has 1,600 ICT companies.
SAMENA conference kicks off
The SAMENA Telecommunications Council, the multi-continent telecom consortium kicked off its 'Convergence to Casablanca 2007' conference to discuss telecommunications issues in the region such as regulations, defining convergence, satellite services as well as M&A and privatisations. SAMENA is a Dubai-based telecoms council that include South Asia, Middle East and North Africa.
Batelco earns record profit
Bahrain Telecommunication Corporation (Batelco) has reported a net profit of 78.2m Bahraini dinars (appr. $208m) on a turnover of 213.2 million dinars. The firm's net profit rose 10.7% compared with last year, while gross revenues grew 25.6% over 2006. The company said its third quarter results 'surpassed all similar previous achievements.'
Etisalat raises salaries 10%
Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (etisalat) said it will raise employee wages by 10% next month in a bid to help retain and recruit staff in an increasingly tight market, reported Reuters. The increase will be effective November 1 and will apply to all of etisalat's employees in the UAE (approximately 9,000). Etisalat, which lost its UAE mobile phone monopoly to du this year, did not say how much the pay hike would cost.
Etisalat gets Benin mobile licence
Emirates Telecommunications Corp (etisalat) has been given sole control of Benin's mobile licence after the government stripped Telecel of its licence for failing to pay a fee increase, reported Reuters. In September, Telecel had been ordered to pay a one-off operator, but it missed the early October deadline. Telecel is 51% owned by etisalat, with the rest held by a local company, Sarci-Benin.
Saudi Telecom profit falls
Saudi Telecom, the largest Arab telecom firm by market value, has posted its fifth consecutive fall in profit in the third quarter, reported Reuters. Net income in the three months to September 30 fell 2% to 3.14 billion riyals ($837.3mn), compared with 3.21 billion riyals in the year-earlier period.
Nokia unveils enhancements
Nokia, the global leader in mobility, has launched a new range of optional mobility enhancements in the region. The enhancements are aimed at enabling customers to get more out of their Nokia devices or to further enjoy all the functionalities of their Nokia devices. Enhancements include a variety of ranges from Bluetooth headsets, speakers and extra power options for mobile devices.
Zain buys Ghana firm for $120m
Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co. (Zain), the second-largest Arab telecom firm by market value, has signed an agreement to acquire 75% of Western Telesystems from the government of Ghana for $120m, reported Reuters. Zain plans to make the purchase through its Netherlands-based Celtel unit, which it bought for $3.4bn in 2005 to expand in sub-Saharan Africa. Celtel operates in 14 other African countries.
Thuraya delays satellite launch
Thuraya, the Abu Dhabi-based Satellite tele-communications provider, has announced that it has again delayed the launch of its latest satellite and is now planning a mid-November launch, reported Gulf News. The T3 satellite, which is designed to give Thuraya access to the Asia-Pacific market, was first delayed by six months and slated for October following problems with the launch service.
etisilat buys Zantel
Emirates Telecommunications (etisalat) has bought an additional 17% of Tanzania's Zanzibar Telecom, raising its stake in the African firm to 51%, reported Reuters. etisilat, the third-largest Gulf telecom firm by market value, did not say how much it paid for the stake. Zantel, the smallest mobile phone operator in Tanzania, hopes to double its customer base to as many as one million users by year-end.
E-learning Arabic
An Arabic e-learning website called Arabic-elearn.com has made its official debut on the internet to offer a variety of e-learning techniques in Arabic language. The learning practices include audio and video techniques that allow online students to listen and watch the program they would like to learn about in simple, in details and in Arabic.
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