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Motorola to manage Zain's Iraqi network
Motorola said its has signed a multi-million dollar contract with Zain Iraq to provide managed services to the operator. Under the contract, Motorola has been entrusted to improve Zain Iraq's network performance, operate and maintain it as well as provide training to its technical support team, the company said in a statement. Zain Iraq has over 9.68 million active customers as of December 31, 2008.
Symbian handsets to double in five years
According to a new report from Juniper Research, shipments of open source Symbian handsets are expected to more than double over the next five years. Symbian handset shipments were likely to reach 180 million by 2014, up from 87 million; this, allied to a steady increase in Android and LiMo shipments, will push the total open source handset market beyond 220 million by that time, the report said. However, the platform faces strong competition in a smartphone marketplace, with the result that its overall market share will remain virtually unchanged over that period, the report noted.
ITU to discuss network neutrality in Beirut
The controversial issues concerning network neutrality will be discussed in Beirut, Lebanon next month, The National has reported. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will determine its official position on network neutrality - whether the operators of telecoms networks should be allowed to set aside a special 'fast lane' for traffic from preferred partners. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued four 'principles' to operators of fixed-line phone networks, opposing the selective slowing or speeding up of different types of traffic.
Egypt to invite 'triple play' bids
Egypt's communications minister Tarek Kamel has said the country will invite bids for two licences for 'triple-play' cable, telephone and internet services which it expects to generate $1bn in new investments within five years, Reuters has reported. The addition of triple-play operators would increase competition in Egypt's telecoms industry and could open the way to breaking state-owned Telecom Egypt's fixed-line monopoly.
Etisalat revenue to fall as population drops, says report
A new report predicts that Emirates Telecommunications (Etisalat) may see its revenue fall up to 9.9% in the third quarter due to a drop in the country's population. The study by Al Mal Capital said third quarter revenue at the telecom firm will fall to Dhs6.87bn ($1.87bn), while revenue in the previous quarter was Dhs7.62bn, according to Bloomberg data. The number of mobile subscribers probably declined 0.7% during the quarter, Al Mal said.
Qtel completes $2 bln loan deal
Qatar Telecommunications has announced it has completed syndication of a $2bn loan facility for general corporate purposes including refinancing existing debt, Reuters has reported. 'In response to the substantial demand from investors for Qtel's credit, the company elected to increase the final facility size to $2bn,' the company has said.
Etisalat to offer mobile money payments
The UAE's Central Bank and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) have given their approval to Etisalat to offer mobile money transfer services in the country. The new service will enable Etisalat's customers to use the system to pay utility bills and buy goods, and it will eventually become possible to transfer money abroad from a mobile phone.
Bahraini firms face legal action over masts
Bahraini telecom firms face potential legal action after erecting 'hundreds' of mobile phone masts over the weekend, despite municipal councils ordering a freeze on any new mast installations on top of homes, Gulf Daily News has reported. Last week, the five municipal councils gave telecom firms until the end of the year to remove existing masts from residential property or face legal action, however, councillors now say that deal is cancelled and are seeking the dismantling of such masts immediately. An agreement was reached two weeks ago to hire an international company to assess the situation and come up with a plan for setting up masts in future.
France Telecom still eyes stake in Mobinil
France Telecom would continue its efforts to buy the stake in Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (MobiNil) even if it means entering an international arbitration process, Gervais Pellissier, the company's CFO has said. 'We have time in front of us. We are not in a hurry,' he told Reuters.
Samsung launches 12 megapixel phone
Samsung Electronics is bringing out a 12 Megapixel camera phone, called Pixon 12. Features on the Apple iPhone-like mobile include auto focus, including for moving images and a 3.1" Amoled touch screen. The phone is available across the Middle East, costing Dhs2,999.
Overseas operations to play bigger role in Etisalat's growth
Strong growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) broadband market, coupled with a slight decline in the UAE's mobile subscribers is pushing local telecom operators to look beyond traditional growth strategies. According to first half results of Etisalat, UAE operations accounts for more than 98% of Etisalat's profits and 90% of its revenues. The company is the second-largest operator in the MENA region by market capitalization. Etisalat lost 73,000 active mobile subscribers in the second quarter of this year, but Du, its competitor, added 156,000, increasing the latter's market share to almost 31%. Decline in subscriptions were offset by higher margins and average revenue per user figures for Etisalat. According to Informa Telecoms and Media (ITM), a London-based industry consultancy, the region's broadband market grew by 66% in 2008 to 4.8 million subscribers and is expected to grow by more than 60% by the end of this year. (Mac Capital Advisors)
Etisalat, Orascom and Batelco in running to buy Meditel stake
A report by three Moroccan dailies has said that UAE-based Etisalat, Bahrain-based Batelco and Egypt's Orascom are all interested in buying a stake in Morocco's telecommunications firm Meditel, Emirates Business 24/7 has reported. Meditel's owners, FinanceCom and state fund CDG, aim to sell the stake to institutional investors, likely to be telecoms firms from Egypt, Bahrain or the UAE, the papers reported.
Alcatel-Lucent to set-up wireless network in Iraq
Alcatel-Lucent has inked a deal with HI Link Telecom LTD, the winner of Western Iraq's CDMA fixed wireless license, to deploy wireless broadband network in Al Anbar province in the West of Iraq. Alcatel-Lucent is providing CDMA/EV-DO wireless technology.
Vodafone Qatar predicts eightfold revenue increase
Vodafone Qatar has said its revenue will rise more than eight-fold for the quarter ending September as the company increased its subscriber base, Bloomberg has reported. Vodafone's total number of customers rose to more than 100,000 since the company started its operations two months ago.
Wataniya, Gameloft unveil mobile games portal
Kuwait's telecom services provider, Wataniya has teamed up with Gameloft, publisher of video games on mobile phones, to launch its new game portal on WAP for its mobile phone customers. The partnership will enable customers to receive a free game when they download the game of their choice.
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