Mobily pledges billions in further network development

Saudi Arabia’s Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) plans to spend SAR22 billion (US$5.9 billion) over the next five years upgrading its network, the company’s CEO has said.

Khalid Al Kaf told a local newspaper that the company has invested around SAR4 billion-SAR4.5 billion per year since it was set up in 2004.

Mobily currently covers 92 per cent of the Kingdom’s areas with 3G services and 45 cities with its LTE network.

According to Al-Kaf, Mobily retains more than 40 per cent of the Kingdom’s mobile market share.

He added that the country could absorb a fourth telecom operator if the regulator were to licence one.