CERT AE

When in Roam…

‘Explosive’ is a word that best describes the growth of Africa’s mobile ecosystem. Demand for mobile broadband, with 400,000 new HSPA connections added every month, as well as competition among large, established operators and a wave of new market entrants, has created one of the most competitive markets in the world. Africa truly is a region burgeoning with opportunities for those who look beyond their network’s borders.

Syniverse - Eugene Bergen HenegouwenEugene Bergen Henegouwen is Syniverse’s executive vice president, EMEA

Continue reading →

Taking stock

The reporting of Q4 and full-year financial results for 2009 has been a highly anticipated time given the economic turbulence experienced during the course of last year. A sample of results from the region and other emerging markets confirms the resilience of the telecom sector, driven mainly by mobile and broadband operations, and augers well for the year ahead as operators seek to drive new revenue streams

US dollars 

Continue reading →

The LTE connection

Launched by Alcatel-Lucent in April 2009, the NG Connect Program aims to bring together members of the digital media value chain including infrastructure, device, application, and content companies into an end-to-end ecosystem, powered by next generation broadband networks. There is no better manifestation of this effort than the Connected Car, which was showcased in Velizy on the outskirts of Paris. Comm. was there

Alcatel-Lucent LTE car 1

Continue reading →

The king is dead

Over the past seven years as MTC and then Zain managing director, Saad Al Barrak has presided over the most high-profile cellular operator in the Middle East. His resignation at the beginning of February, prompted by frustration with unilateral shareholder action leaves Zain bereft of its inexorable leader, and the Middle East losing one of its brightest corporate managers

Saad Al BarrakAl Barrak and his managementeam have added tens of billions to Zain’s valuation over the years, and there are fears that some key executives may now also exit

Continue reading →

Coming of age

Etisalat, like most of the leading telecom providers from the region, is entering into uncharted territories as it looks to balance mild global economic resurgence with the need to extract value from a growing tapestry of assets. The telco’s chairman, Mohammed Omran acknowledges that 2010 and beyond shall be a challenging time for the corporation, but believes given its track record, experience and determination to innovate, a successful outcome is achievable

Etisalat - Mohammed Omran 2

Mohammed Omran says prudence and the ambition to add value to the group are the premises on which Etisalat formulates its expansion strategy

Continue reading →

News

Qtel posts solid group performance in 2009

Qtel Group ended 2009 with a strong financial performance across its 17-country footprint, despite competitive challenges to its operations in Qatar, Oman and Kuwait from new entrants. Annual net profit swelled 20.5 per cent to QAR 2.8 billion (US$769 million), from QAR 2.3 billion a year earlier. Group revenues increased by 18.2 per cent from [...]

Sawiris rebuffs claims of Orascom stake sale

Orascom Telecom’s chairman Naguib Sawiris has denied the Egyptian company is involved in selling a majority shareholding.
"We are not in any talks to sell a stake," Sawiris stated in response to a report from the UAE’s The National. The newspaper quoted him as saying he preparing to cede control of Orascom Telecom (OT), with the [...]

Etisalat Afghanistan reaches 24 per cent market share

Etisalat’s operation in Afghanistan has attracted almost three million customers across 27 provinces, equating to 24 per cent market share, stated CEO Saeed Al Hamili. Additionally, the company’s 2009 revenues are three times as much compared 2008.
“We have invested directly or indirectly US$300 million in Afghanistan and around 10,000 Afghans are supported by us and [...]

Orange Jordan brings first 3G network to kingdom

Orange Jordan has launched the first stage of its 3G+ network, the first network of its kind in the kingdom, with preliminary services available in select areas of Amman, Irbid and Zarqa. The network will gradually be expanded over the next six months to reach most populated areas in the country.
Company CEO Nayla Khawam [...]

STC launches Viva Bahrain

Saudi Arabia’s STC yesterday launched operations in Bahrain under the Viva brand, accompanied by heavily reduced tariffs to entice new customers.
Saud Al-Duwaish, CEO of the STC Group announced Viva customers will be able to take advantage of broadband services for free, calls to other Viva or STC subscribers at no cost, as well as [...]

More News»