Batelco’s chairman Hamad Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa announced that Batelco’s board of directors appointed a new group CEO and the creation of a new executive role, responsible for Batelco’s growth and transformation into one of the most admired communications companies in the Middle East.

Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa has been appointed Batelco’s new group CEO while former CEO Peter Kaliaropoulos has been moved to the newly created post of CEO Strategic Assignments responsible for Batelco’s joint ventures. Current Batelco board director Murad Ali Murad is set to become the new deputy chairman of the board in place of Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa is the first national to hold the most senior role at Batelco Group and will assume responsibility for the telco on October 1, 2011.

Incoming Batelco Group CEO, Mohamed bin Isa Al Khalifa

Given the socio-political unrest that has been witnessed in Bahrain this year, it is unclear whether Kaliropoulos’ sidelining is as a consequence of the Bahraini establishment closing ranks at the state telco, or as a result of the downward pressure Batelco’s operating results have been under over the last few quarters due to larger-than-expected losses in its investment in India.

From September 1, 2011, Vodacom’s new mobile applications store will go live. Vodacom Apps will feature a catalogue of over 140,000 applications powered by Appia, one of the world’s largest open application marketplaces. This event marks the launch of what Vodacom believes will be an entirely new local South African mobile application ecosystem, complete with the development of home-grown talent and revenue opportunities.

Vodacom Apps will support major mobile platforms including Android, Blackberry, Java, Symbian and Windows Mobile, making it relevant for the vast majority of data capable mobile phones and smartphones. The store will feature a wide variety of apps in various categories such as games, travel and entertainment, business and professional, work and school, and phone tools.

Vodacom Apps users will be able to download free apps, for which standard data charges will apply. In the near future, Vodacom will introduce paid-for apps that customers can pay for using their airtime account. This means that all Vodacom customers can use the store without the need for a credit or debit card. 

All Vodacom customers who wish to access Vodacom Apps can do so from September 1 by visiting http://vodacom.mobi/apps on their mobiles or from the Apps feature on Vodafone live!

Ericsson and Pacific Controls, a Dubai-based ICT enabled software developer and provider of global total automation solutions, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop ICT enabled smart solutions for vertical industry sectors. With the combined efforts and experience of both companies, Ericsson and Pacific Controls will enable customers to offer smarter services and products to their end-users.

The agreement calls for Ericsson and Pacific Controls to jointly cater to the business needs of sectors such energy, utilities and certain areas of government. With Ericsson as the global leading provider of telecommunication technology and services and its consulting and systems integration capabilities combined with Pacific Controls’ expertise in the fields of energy management, remote monitoring, controlling and M2M (machine-to-machine) applications, customers will be able to cut their costs, increase their revenues and enhance their overall productivity.

In addition to adding value to customers’ business and introducing initiatives to provide optimum benefits to end-users, the one year agreement is also in line with Ericsson’s 50 billion connected devices by 2020 vision.

Etisalat has appointed Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar as group chief executive officer. The appointment comes as part of a new expansion phase that will see Etisalat strengthen its position globally. Julfar joined Etisalat in 1986 and has held several senior roles before being appointed as Etisalat’s chief operating officer in 2006.

He had previously served as the general manager for Dubai operations, in addition to various other managerial positions.

Commenting on the appointment, Mohammed Omran, chairman of Etisalat said: “The appointment of Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar as group CEO will bring further impetus to the realisation of the Etisalat Group strategy as it aims to become one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies.”

Omantel’s CEO Amer Al-Rawas has said the company is seeking operating licences and network building contracts abroad as competition in the sultanate’s mobile telecom sector become stiffer, Reuters has reported. Al-Rawas said that the main driver for the company’s growth and revenue at present is broadband.