Telecoms
- The news you choose »
- Login to Add to Watchlist
Categories
STC cuts roaming costs
Saudi-based STC has reduced the cost of international roaming calls by 50% in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The initiative, to mark the launch of its unified international roaming service, makes use of strategic partnerships with mobile services providers in those areas.
Du gets fibre access through Adwea
Du has signed up an agreement with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (Adwea) giving Du the uninterrupted access to all installed and planned fibre optics networks across Abu Dhabi. Du will utilise Adwea-owned Transco's state-of-the-art fibre optics network offering unlimited access to the current dark fibre network intended to increase Du's capacity in internet bandwidth.
Mobily offers package for special needs clients
Saudi Arabia's Mobily has launched a new prepaid package featuring services tailored for users with special needs to communicate easily through video and SMS only. Sold for SR75, the package contains SR75 in credit, plus 60 free video minutes a month and 60 free SMS monthly to other Mobily lines. No voice calling minutes are included in the package.
Qtel profit rises 15% in Q1
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) said its profit rose 15% in the first-quarter of this year to QR604.4 million ($166m) from QR525.4 million a year earlier. The company said the number of Qtel's customers increased to 55.9 million from 16.8 million a year earlier, boosting revenue 58% to QR5.6 billion.
Mobily's Q1 net profit rises 47%
Mobily, Saudi Arabia's second largest mobile phone firm, said its first quarter profit climbed 47% to SAR480m ($128m) in the three months to Mar 31 up from SAR326m ($87m) in the year-earlier period. The earnings came below average forecasts by analysts surveyed by Reuters who had expected Mobily to post SAR576.86m ($153.8m).
Saudi Telecom Q1 profit dips 18%
Saudi Telecom its profit dropped 18% in the first quarter due to foreign currency fluctuations. The company said its income fell to SR2.49 billion ($660m), or SR1.24 per share, from SR3.03 billion, or SR1.51 per share, in the same period last year. The company is proposing to pay a dividend of 0.75 riyals per share for the first quarter.
Etisalat Q1 net profit up 4%
UAE's Etisalat has reported a net profit of Dhs2.178bn ($593m) and net revenues of Dhs7.119bn ($1.938bn) for the first quarter of 2009. The results reflect a 4% increase over the Q1 2008 net profit of Dhs2.096bn and a 13% increase over last year's net revenues of Dhs6.280bn. Etisalat mobile subscribers in the first quarter of 2009 reached 7.341 million and fixed-line subscribers were recorded at 1.349 million. Internet customers were recorded at 1.202 million.
Etisalat has highest customer base for in-flight calls
UAE's Etisalat announced that over 56,000 of its customers have experienced the in-flight mobile service, by using their mobiles phones in the air, since the service was first introduced by the company a year ago on 32 aircraft in the Emirates' fleet through the AeroMobile system. Currently, Emirates operates over 60 Aeromobile equipped flights daily to various global destinations.
Abu Dhabi fibre to the home in Q3
Etisalat is on schedule to launch its fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) in Abu Dhabi by the third quarter of this year. This is part of the first phase of the UAE wide deployment, started in 2007. The installation project across the UAE is expected to be completed in 2011, making the country the first in the region to a widespread fibre-optic network. Many communities in Dubai that use Du have already got FTTH. (Mac Capital)
Etisalat launches new promotion
Etisalat has announced a three-months free 100 GB mobile broadband promotion for customers subscribing or upgrading to the 10GB mobile broadband package. Valid until July 10, this additional offer will enable Etisalat's 10GB prepaid and Wasel subscribers to experience the fastest mobile broadband connectivity in the UAE, with the maximum bandwidth at no additional cost.
More job cuts for Sony Ericcson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications will slash additional 2,000 jobs as part of cost-cutting measures, saving the company Euro400m. The company has said it will focus on revenue and less on market share. The company is eyeing on content on mobile phones, PCs and televisions, but has not launched yet any products to market.
Omantel to invest in 3.5G
Amer al-Rawas, CEO of Omantel has said that the company plans to invest in both its 2G and 3.5G networks this year, and intends to offer entertainment services, such as mobile television, on the 3.5G network this year. Rawas said he also expects some impact from the current financial crisis but not to the same extent as other Gulf countries.
Egypt lifts GPS ban
Dr Amr Badawy, executive director of Egypt's telecom regulator said the authority decided to lift a five year old ban on mobile phones equipped with GPS features. Badawy added that the decision will also allow the import of cars equipped with GPS and navigation programs.
AT and T open Gulf office
AT and T has opened its new regional headquarters in Dubai Internet City, and plans to offer the full spectrum of its business services to its clients from the US, as well as the others companies entering the market. Ronald Spears, president and CEO of the group's Business Solutions said the company would be working with both the telecom operators in the UAE, Etisalat and Du, to provide its services.
Qtel rejects criticism from Vodafone
Qtel has issued a statement in reaction to comments by the head of Vodafone Qatar which suggest that lack of cooperation from Qtel and Qatari authorities are among the reasons for the significant delay in the launch of Vodafone operations in Qatar. 'As a long-term supporter of competition in Qatar's telecommunications sector, Qtel is surprised and disappointed to read the series of recent media reports in which the CEO of Vodafone Qatar, Grahame Maher, suggests that a lack of cooperation from Qtel and Qatari authorities is one of the reasons for the significant delay in the launch of Vodafone operations in Qatar. These statements are inaccurate and misleading,' said an official press note issued by Qtel.
It looks like you are using a Mac - check out our 
Web Feeds