March 22nd, 2013 — Issue 37 January/February 2013
Over the past 18 months Saudi Telecom Group (STC) has been plagued by a crisis in management with senior figures having departed the telco suddenly. Given it is based in the largest economy in the region the ripples of its disquiet can be felt across the Middle East and beyond as the telco grapples to correct its course
Saud Al Daweesh’s resignation as STC Group CEO in April 2012 marked the start of numerous senior management resignations at the telco
March 11th, 2013 — Issue 37 January/February 2013
Ericsson continues to dominate the global telecom infrastructure market, though its performance in 2012 highlighted some weaknesses that the company is looking to improve. President and CEO Hans Vestberg articulates the company’s future plans and direction 
Hans Vestberg believes the further investment in LTE infrastructure in 2013 shall boost Ericsson’s prospects even further during the course of the year
March 7th, 2013 — Issue 37 January/February 2013
Nokia Siemens Networks’ performance in 2012 took many industry analysts and commentators by surprise as the technology provider reported its best financial year yet, with forward momentum also being present for 2013 and beyond. Igor Leprince, NSN’s man for Middle East and Africa describes why the sense of surprise is not as animated internally, and what the company is doing in the region to ensure further gains 
Leprince was appointed head of MEA at the start of 2013, and amongst his main priorities is the development of sustainable growth for NSN in the region
March 3rd, 2013 — Issue 37 January/February 2013
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) telecom sector is extremely diverse, with advanced communications markets sitting alongside less developed ones. However, the demand for high-speed mobile broadband access and digital content is a consistent theme across the region, and Pierre Chaume, Alcatel-Lucent’s VP for MENA offers his impressions of the dynamics at play there 
Pierre Chaume, Alcatel-Lucent’s VP for MENA, is confident of the company’s prospects in the region in 2013
February 28th, 2013 — Issue 37 January/February 2013
Undoubtedly, GCC telecom operators are faced with tremendous challenges in 2013. A.T. Kearney expects GCC operators to refine their pricing, retention, and customer experience approach; make digital diversification a top-priority; re-assess and actively manage their portfolio of operators; and, lastly, transform their operating models to the changed industry dynamics
Rob van Dale, principal at A.T. Kearney Middle East, has 10 years international consulting experience and is a member of A.T. Kearney’s Communications, Media, and Technology Practice in the Middle East
Batelco has successfully activated 5G coverage across Bahrain, which is available in all four governorates, covering 95% of the nation’s population. The telco’s launch of the network makes Batelco the first operator to provide national 5G coverage in Bahrain.
Omantel has renewed and expanded its managed services agreement with Ericsson for a further five years, with the renewed agreement being more outcome-based and customer-centric.
South Africa-headquartered MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter will step down from his role at the end of his fixed four-year contract in March 2021, having given no explanation why he would not seek to stay on beyond that date.
Nokia CEO and president, Rajeev Suri, is set to step down from his position later this year, to be replaced by Pekka Lundmark, currently CEO and president of energy company Fortum. The move comes as Nokia struggles to keep pace with the global shift to 5G.
Following Zain Group’s regional milestone announcement in November 2019 that its operations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia had successfully launched the first 5G roaming service across the MENA region, Bahrain telco Batelco has announced partnering with the UAE’s du to deliver 5G international roaming services in the UAE.
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