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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.
Etisalat to spend $1.4bn to expand coverage
The chairman of Emirates Telecommunications Corp (Etisalat) said today the company plans to spend Dhs5bn ($1.4bn) to boost fiber-optic coverage, Bloomberg has reported. Mohammed Omran said the telecom operator is seeking to boost coverage to 90% of the country from 60% by 2011.
Zain trims sales forecast
Saad al-Barrak, chief executive of Kuwait-based mobile operator Zain, has said he expects the global financial crisis and currency market turmoil to reduce by $1bn its forecast revenue of $9bn this year, Reuters has reported. 'The financial crisis has changed the consumption patterns ... exchange rate differences have also been a main factor,' he said.
Iraq cable landing deal signed
Gulf Bridge International, a privately owned submarine cable operator, has signed an agreement with the Iraqi Telecommunication and Post Co to establish a landing for GBI's advanced fibre optic Gulf Bridge International Cable System in Iraq. The undersea cable network is planned to connect the Middle East in a 'Gulf Ring' system, in addition to onward telecommunications connectivity to the Far East (East Route) and Europe (West Route). The cable will provide high capacity internet services especially with Gulf countries, and will help in reconnecting Iraq with the rest of the world.
BSNL to approach Zain direct if group talks fail
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), India's state telecoms firm, has said should talks by a consortium of which the Indian firm is a member fail, it would directly engage Kuwait's Zain in order to purchase a stake, Reuters has reported. BSNL, along with Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), a smaller state firm, are part of a group led by Indian company Vavasi, which aims to take a 46% holding in the Kuwaiti firm.
Du to offer Facebook mobile texts
Du has recently announced it will be offering its users the Facebook Mobile Texts, an easy access to various communication options offered by Facebook. The service will provide Du subscribers with status updates, and wil be able to send messages, pokes, wall posts and friend requests via SMS, as well as post pictures and videos via MMS. Users may also receive free SMS notifications from Facebook, according to preferences.
Vodafone Qatar losses widen
Vodafone Qatar has said that its half-year operating loss had widened to QR347.5m ($95.52m) on increased operational start-up costs, Reuters has reported. The company made a bigger loss on earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for the six months to September 30, compared with the same period last year, when it recorded a loss of QR37.5m. The firm, which listed on the Qatar bourse in July, said it was on track to be EBITDA-positive in the year ending March 31, 2011. 'We expect to be able to pay dividends following the year ended March 31 2013, when we will be cash flow positive on a cumulative basis,' Vodafone Qatar's chief executive, Grahame Maher said.
Sony Ericsson to launch Android phone
Sony Ericsson has unveiled details about its new X10 mobile phone, its first to run on Google's Android operating system, Reuters has reported. The X10 will have a 4-inch-wide touch screen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon processor, and an 8.1 megapixel camera. The new handset will not go on sale until early next year, the company said.
Mobinil Q3 profit falls 8%
The Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (MobiNil) has said its third quarter net profit fell 8.1% to EGP497m ($90.8m) from EGP541m a year earlier, Reuters has reported. MobiNil has added 1.771 million new customers in the quarter for a total of 24.625 million by end-September.
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