Nokia Networks today announced the appointment of Bernard Najm as vice president and head of its business in Middle East and Africa, effective December 15, 2014. Najm, who will be based in Dubai, is currently leading the business in the sub-region called “SKIL” – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Levant that includes Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

Najm has 18 years of experience with a wide competence base covering management, business and technical aspects in mobile and fixed telecom networks. He has been serving the company since 1996 and has held several senior management positions in several countries in Europe and the Middle East. He holds a Master’s degree in Telecommunications and Bachelors in Electrical Engineering.

Until a new head for the SKIL sub-region is appointed, Najm will continue to lead the sub-region in addition to his new responsibilities. Najm takes over from Igor Leprince, who assumed the leadership of Global Services, on November 4, 2014.

Etisalat Group announced today the appointment of Sulaiman Salim Al-Kaabi as acting CEO of Canar – an Etisalat subsidiary in Sudan.

Al-Kaabi brings to the role 16 years of professional experience within Etisalat Group. He joined Etisalat after his graduation from Etisalat College of Engineering in 1998 – where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Telecommunications.

Over his 16 years within the Group, Al-Kaabi has gained international experience serving in Etisalat Group’s operating companies in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Tanzania and, most recently, in Côte d’Ivoire, where he served as chief operating officer.

Saudi Arabia MVNO, Jawraa Lebara has announced the launch of its services in the kingdom over Mobily’s network.

Lebara, which primarily targets migrant communities with its pay-as-you-go SIM deals and related products, currently operates across eight European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK), as well as in Australia.

It said in Saudi Arabia it will target the estimated 10 million expatriates living in the country, where prepaid SIM cards and top-up vouchers will be sold through the Saudi Post and other retailers.

For the time being, Saudi Arabia remains only one of two countries in the Gulf region to allow MVNOs, Oman being the other. In September Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (VMMEA) launched its MVNO operations in Saudi Arabic, with capacity from STC’s network.

Qualcomm is to cut 600 jobs around the world as part of efforts to refocus its business in new areas, a company representative confirmed to CNET.

The chipmaker faces a number of challenges, including several investigations into its business practices in several markets. It also recently revised down its fiscal expectations.

CNET reported that slightly less than 300 employee roles will be cut in California, where Qualcomm’s San Diego headquarters is based. A similar number of international employees will also be laid off.

At the end of September, Qualcomm had around 31,300 employees, meaning it is cutting slightly less than two per cent of its total workforce.

The Chinese government started to investigate Qualcomm in November last year over alleged infringement of anti-monopoly laws. The mobile chipset vendor reportedly said in August that it is willing to modify its pricing in China and put an end to the probe.

The company recently disclosed that two further preliminary investigations, by the US Federal Trade Commission and European Commission, are taking place.

It has also said that the Chinese investigation has resulted in some of its licensees under-reporting sales, leading to reduced royalty revenue.

The Qualcomm representative said the job losses were not related to investigations into the company by authorities in China, the US, and Europe.

Qualcomm’s licensing revenue — which accounts for two-thirds of the company’s earnings — fell 4.9 per cent to US$1.9 billion in the most recent quarter, although total sales increased.

Steve Mollenkopf, Qualcomm’s CEO, warned investors in November that the company expects revenue over the next five years to slow as it deals with current challenges.

In terms of new business areas, Qualcomm aims to “spearhead” the definition of 5G technology to support expanded connectivity needs in the future.

Zain Saudi Arabia confirmed it received a request, dated November 16, from a representative of Mobily to commence arbitration procedures in relation to Mobily’s demand that Zain pay Mobily the amount of SAR2.21 billion (US$587 million), which Mobily alleges that Zain owes it under a services agreement, dated May 6, 2008, entered into between Zain and Mobily. The latter also demands that Zain compensate Mobily for damages allegedly suffered by Mobily, in the amount of SAR58.7 million, as a result of non-payment of the alleged amounts due.

In a statement Zain commented that it does not understand the basis for Mobily’s arbitrary demands, given that it has requested Mobily to explain its position for some time. Zain further commented that it has used Mobily’s network pursuant to the agreement, and it has always reviewed the demands sent by Mobily that are supported by documentation. In its opinion Zain has always settled payments in a timely fashion, except for a currently outstanding amount of approximately SAR13 million, according to its unaudited records.

Zain does not consider that the agreement enables this dispute to be subject to arbitration.