As the world’s largest mobile telecom market, China has the muscle to single-handedly create and sustain a market for products and technologies that the rest of the world may not necessarily be as enthusiastic to adopt. However, in the case of TD-LTE, China Mobile’s early investment in the technology, and its desire to see it adopted as a global standard, has created a momentum with global implications and opportunities. Comm. reports from Shanghai

Brda says Motorola needs to drive the 70 per cent re-use between WiMAX and LTE even higher in 2010

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Navteq is a leading global provider of digital maps, traffic and location data and in recent years has been ramping up its presence across the MENA region. The company’s regional GM, Ghassan Freij explains what is driving demand for location-based services and how Navteq is building local capacity in order to support the growth

Ghassan Freij is Navteq’s MENA GM

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Regional MVNO Friendi Group has announced the commercial launch of operations in Jordan.

Jordan is Friendi Group’s second country launch in the region and follows the successful launch in Q209 in Oman, where a market share of 4 per cent was achieved within one year of launch.

In Jordan Friendi Group will launch its Friendi Mobile brand with a set of innovative services and attractive prices tailored to appeal to Jordanian mobile customers, with a special focus on the many people in Jordan with friends and loved ones abroad.

In January, Friendi Group entered a strategic cooperative agreement with Zain to provide MVNO services in Jordan; approximately two years after Dubai-based company received its original licence in the country. The deal will allow Friendi to leverage capacity from Zain’s network to provide targeted services to specific customer segments under the Friendi banner.

Etihad Atheeb Telecom Co. “Go” has announced the appointment of Raed Abdul Rauf Kayyal as acting CEO, effective June 13, replacing Ahmed Sindi. Kayyal will be responsible for structuring a new strategy that adapts with the requirements of the operation.

“The board of directors has accepted Sindi’s resignation, all members of the board express their appreciation for his efforts during launch phase, and we wish him success in both his personal and professional life,” commented Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, chairman of Etihad Atheeb Telecom Co.

Outgoing CEO – Ahmed Sindi

Kayyal possesses over 15 years of experience in business management, development, telecom and IT, having worked in various major international companies including Siemens, AT & T, Lucent Technologies, and GlobTel.

Prior to 2004, all GCC incumbents combined were operating in only six markets outside their home countries. Today, this number stands at 78, with government policies in GCC countries stimulating this drive for corporate globalisation. As the profitability and financial strength of GCC operators have grown, so too has competition in their home markets. This created a surge in globalisation, as operators sought growth through mergers and acquisitions. The disclosed value of GCC incumbents’ cross-border M&A activity between 2004 and 2009 exceeded US$33 billion.

Mohamad Mourad is principal at Booz & Company

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