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Oman shortlists bidders for license
Oman's Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) has shortlisted 7 out of 10 bidders after the first round of bidding to offer telecom services in the remote areas of the Sultanate, Times of Oman has reported. The winning licensee will have the right to offer all kinds of telecom services within the government's Universal Service Obligation initiative area, and can also provide services in other areas but only after paying the requisite fees and getting their license amended, the regulator said.
Dell to create communications, mobile unit
Dell has announced plans to set up a new unit focused on communications and mobile devices, Reuters has reported. Ron Garriques, the former Motorola executive who was head of Dell consumer business, will head the new division, the company said. Dell had formally announced its entry into the mobile phone market last month. Its Mini 3 smartphone is being launched in China and Brazil this year.
Mobinil to issue $275m bonds
Khalid Ellaicy, chief finance officer of Egypt's MobiNil has said the company's board will issue fixed-rate, unsecured 5-year bonds worth up to EGP1.5bn ($275m), Reuters has reported. Funds raised through the issue will be used to finance a number of licensing payments due in 2010 and upgrades to infrastructure, as well as the potential purchase of Internet firm LinkDotNet from Orascom, Mobinil said.
BSNL suspends Zain acquisition plans
Plans by Indian state-run telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) to be part of a consortium to buy a stake in Kuwaiti mobile operator Zain have been suspended, according to Chairman Kuldeep Goyal, Reuters has reported. BSNL and state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam were considering a partnership with little-known Indian company Vavasi Group and Malaysian billionaire Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary to buy a 46% stake in Zain. However, the BNSL Chairman said it had taken the decision to pull out of the consortium of companies due to Vavasi not providing sought-for information.
Nokia launches Jordan mapping service
Nokia Middle East has launched a route mapping service in Jordan for both pedestrians and drivers via their mobile phones. It uses the company's Ovi Maps application and also includes world maps. The Jordan map is free and includes road coverage of 28,621km, covering 100 municipalities, including street names and street directions.
Nokia plans one Linux phone for 2010
Nokia has said it plans to install Linux software on just one new smartphone next year, according to Reuters. Analysts and industry players had expected that the firm would roll out the Maemo operating system to numerous phones next year. Nokia started to sell its first Linux phone, the N900, this month, having previously used the OS on a range of internet tablets. But the phone maker said it believes the OS will be used in future in its high-end handsets, adding that it also remains committed to the Symbian OS.
UAE mobile subscribers rise to 7.44m
The number of mobile subscribers in the UAE has expanded to 7.44 million at the end of the third quarter, according to a report by Al Mal Capital. The rise represents a net gain of 180,000 subscribers or 2.5% quarter-on-quarter and 5.5% year on year, in contrast to a loss of 81,000 in quarter-two of the year, the report said. Active mobile subscribers grew by 233,100 to reach 3.139 million, higher than projected active mobile net additions of 90,000.
Batelco trims SMS rates for December
Bahrain Telecommunications Co (Batelco) has launched a one-month promotion offering reduced SMS rates from December 1. The special offer includes 100 local (Batelco network only) and international SMS for all SimSim packages except its mobile broadband O-net.
Jordan Telecom Group cuts prices of internet service
Jordan Telecom Group has announced the reduction of internet service wholesale prices by 15% for Internet Service Providers in the kingdom starting from November 1. Furthermore, JTG has also waived the one time installation payment of ADSL service for ISPs and their customers as a promotion for two months to encourage customers to get connected.
Zain signs Nokia Siemens to manage its East Africa unit
Kuwait's Zain has announced its African unit plans to sign a five-year outsourcing agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks to optimize, modernize and manage the company's over 3,000 multivendor mobile networks in East Africa, the Associated Press has reported. Nokia Siemens will apply new technology to the networks to improve efficiency by reducing operating costs and power consumption, the networks manufacturer said in a statement. Zain has more than 9 million customers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Batelco fined by telecom regulator
Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has fined Batelco more than BD5m for failing to allow another operator to connect directly to international data lines, Gulf Daily News has reported. The regulator has also ordered Batelco to allow access to Mena Telecom within 30 days, or face additional fines of BD100,000 for every day it fails to comply with the order. However, the fine will be reduced by BD100,000 for each working day that Batelco provides access ahead of the deadline, the TRA said.
GCC telecom firms ink deal to build new cable
Five telecoms operators in the GCC have signed a strategic partnership agreement with India's Tata Communications to construct a new cable system into the Gulf that will connect the region directly to the world's major business hubs and city centres via Tata's Global Network. The partners, Bahrain Internet Exchange, Nawras, Qtel, Mobily and Etisalat will each be the exclusive landing party for the TGN Gulf Cable System in their respective geography.
STC to continue offer despite government objection
Despite a decision by Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission to ban a special offer by the Saudi Telecom Company, the firm has said it will honour its promise of a month's worth of free calls as a thank-you to its customers, Arab News has reported. A statement by the regulator said the special promotion would damage competition, but STC said the commission misunderstood its special offer. 'It's just an appreciation program to mark a milestone in the company's achievements,' Mohammed Al-Faraj, STC's general manager for corporate communications said.
Du to boost mobile network speed
UAE-based telecom operator Du has announced plans to increase its mobile bandwidth by nearly 200% next year to boost streaming and downloading speeds. The company is to invest $85m in the enhanced network, which will use HSPA+ technology to give customers download and upload speeds of 21 Mbps - up from 7.2 Mbps.
Skype launches in Arabic
Internet VoIP firm Skype has said that its website is now available in Arabic. The Arabic website has been launched to coincide with Eid Al Adha, Christmas and New Year, to enable Arabic speakers to connect with their families and friends.
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