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Wireless Federation » archive for 'Algeria'

Telecom Egypt and Orascom Telecom to liquidate Algerian venture Lacom

  • November 17th, 2008
  • 6:23 am

Telecom Egypt and Orascom Telecom agree to liquidate their Algerian joint venture, 50% owned by both. Both the operators have been complaining about the state owned Algerie Telecom is getting greater preference in comparison to their venture Lacom, so now they both plan to exit the Algerie mobile market.

   

OTA puts the customer first with unified data management solution (Algeria)

  • November 14th, 2008
  • 6:28 am

Orascom Telecom Algeria (OTA), the country’s leading mobile operator has announced that Nokia Siemens Networks will be the provider of its Home Location Register (HLR) solution. Nokia Siemens Networks will modernize the installed base of 17 million subscribers as well as provide additional capacity of 3 million.

The Subscriber Data Management Solution from Nokia Siemens Networks will enable OTA to develop a single database for subscriber information, unifying data that is currently fragmented and giving the operator genuine customer insight.

OTA will consequently be able to move towards smart, subscriber-centric operations, which will reduce time-to-market for service deployment, supporting multiple applications and allowing the operator to be proactive in its approach to customer support and care. The solution is also expected to generate significant capital and operating expenditure savings for OTA.

With the deployment already finished and the migration underway, the new capacity will go live by 2009 while the migration of the current installed base is foreseen for the year end.

The current deal, which includes the maintenance of mobile subscribers’ permanent information for call processing, strengthens Nokia Siemens Networks’ relationship with OTA, which stretches back to 2002, when it has become a key supplier of radio access and microwave equipment.

Commenting on the deal, Tamer El Mahdy, CEO, Orascom Telecom Algeria, said: “We needed a partner who could help us further upgrade and modernize our core equipment. Nokia Siemens Networks’ strong technical solution, reliable support and partnership as well as their competent local setup clinched the deal in their favor.”

El Mahdy added “The decision to go for Nokia Siemens Networks’ leading subscriber database solution, based on Apertio platforms, puts us in control of our most valuable asset – customer data. It opens the network to innovation application using valuable customer insight.“

Dirk Lewandowski, Head of “Orascom” Customer Business Team for Nokia Siemens Networks added “We were able to showcase the benefits of a unified architecture HLR solution, that not only provided increased efficiencies in the network but also significant cost savings. Thus, while OTA already had a
vendor in charge of this critical aspect of their core business, they decided to switch and go with us all the way.”

For more information log on to www.otelecom.com

About Wireless Federation

Wireless Federation is an industry research conglomerate headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The mandate of the Wireless Federation is to provide its members and customers industry knowledge that can further enhance their understanding of the wireless industry. Wireless Federation conducts bespoke research and produces boxed reports in collabaration with Industry Bodies, Telecom Operators for Issues that revolve around ARPU, CHURN and Loyalty.
They have been associated with more than 225 mobile operators globally to set their Pricing/ Tariff Strategies, Go-To-Market Strategies for Mobile Advertising, Mobile Payments, Cutting VAS among others amongst 59 countries globally.

For more information log on to www.wirelessfederation.com

Orascom in alliance with Western Union launches mobile remittance services

  • October 21st, 2008
  • 10:56 am

The Western Union Company today announced that it has created an alliance with Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E., one of the largest mobile operators in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Orascom Telecom and Western Union plan to work together to introduce mobile remittance services in select markets. The services aim to make low-principal, high-frequency remittances more convenient to the millions of consumers who send money every day.
Orascom Telecom, which was established in 1998, operates six mobile networks with a combined total of 77 million subscribers, including Djezzy in Algeria, Mobilink in Pakistan, Mobinil in Egypt, Tunisiana in Tunisia, Banglalink in Bangladesh, and Telecel Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe. In addition, in early 2008, Orascom Telecom acquired a license in North Korea to operate mobile services.
“Orascom Telecom mobile networks are in areas with high populations of people who have limited access to financial services,” said Naguib Sawiris, Orascom Telecom Chairman and CEO. “We believe this alliance, supported by our current mobile subscribers throughout the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, presents an effortless method to bring financial services to many of the world’s families for the first time.”
Western Union, together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, maintains the industry’s largest global money transfer Agent network with more than 355,000 locations in over 200 countries and territories.
“As the need for remittances continues to grow, so does the desire for new channels to conduct quick, convenient and affordable money transfers,” said Gail Galuppo, Western Union Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “Western Union is already offering this convenience with mobile money transfers from select locations, and we look forward to working with Orascom Telecom to offer this option to their subscribers in the future.”
Several of the countries where Orascom Telecom operates are among the top receivers of remittances in the world. For example, according to the World Bank, Bangladesh received US$6.6 billion in remittances in 2007; Pakistan received US$6.1 billion, and Egypt received US$5.9 billion.
The Western Union(R) mobile money transfer service is currently available from select Western Union Agent locations in the United States, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Europe to Globe Telecom and Smart Communications subscribers in the Philippines.
The mobile money transfer service connects mobile operators to Western Union’s trusted global “hub” for processing cross-border remittances. Once connected to Western Union’s service, mobile operators use their own “mobile wallet” software to enable person-to-person mobile money transfers over Western Union’s global remittance network. The Mobile Money Transfer service enables consumers to transfer money to or from mobile wallets and is being introduced into the global network of Western Union Agent locations for cash-to-mobile and mobile-to-cash transactions.
The agreement with Orascom Telecom is part of the pilot program of Western Union and the GSM Association, a global trade association representing over 750 GSM mobile phone operators, to facilitate the development of cross-border mobile money transfer services.

About The Western Union Company

The Western Union Company is a leader in global money-transfer services. Together with its affiliates, Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, Western Union provides consumers with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, as well as send payments and purchase money orders. It operates through a combined network of more than 355,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph services, the original Western Union dates back to 1851. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

About Orascom Telecom

Orascom Telecom is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in six high growth markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 440 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of 44% as of June 30, 2008. Orascom Telecom had over 77 million subscribers as of June 30, 2008.
Orascom Telecom is controlled by Weather Investments S.p.a. which also owns Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.a., Italy’s third largest mobile operator and second largest fixed-line operator, and Wind Hellas, the third largest mobile operator in Greece.
Orascom Telecom is traded on the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange under the symbol; and on the London Stock Exchange, its GDR is traded under the symbol.

About Wireless Federation

Wireless Federation is an industry research conglomerate headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The mandate of the Wireless Federation is to provide its members and customers industry knowledge that can further enhance their understanding of the wireless industry. Wireless Federation conducts bespoke research and produces boxed reports in collabaration with Industry Bodies, Telecom Operators for Issues that revolve around ARPU, CHURN and Loyalty.
They have been associated with more than 225 mobile operators globally to set their Pricing/ Tariff Strategies, Go-To-Market Strategies for Mobile Advertising, Mobile Payments, Cutting VAS among others amongst 59 countries globally.

For more information you can log on to www.wirelessfederation.com

Algerie Telecom’s privatisation delayed for 2-3 years (Algeria)

  • October 15th, 2008
  • 6:12 am

The state owned telecom group, Algerie Telecom, according to the CEO will be ready for privitisation as soon as the implementation of development plan is done in 2-3 years and the services are improved and more competetive.
“I think the Algerian government will not open Algerie Telecom’s capital before allowing it to be competitive at the regional and international level.”
“It’s up to the government to make a decision, but, according to our development strategy, the group may be competitive regionally and internationally in two or three years,” he said.
The companies that are reportedly interested in Algerie Telecom’s stake include Etisalat and Zain Kuwait.

   

Nigeria becomes the No.1 mobile market in Middle East and Africa

  • October 10th, 2008
  • 5:58 am

The Nigerian mobile market has reportedly become the largest mobile market of Middle East and Africa in Q1′08, overtaking the South African market. The subscriber base has crossed the 50 million mark lately, and ended August with 55million mobile subscribers, says Engr Ernest Ndukwe, Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), becoming the 18th largest market of the world.

South Africa which is nearing the mobile penetration of 100% will be falling down to the third position in near future.

Iran has taken an upward leap from 6th to 3rd position by adding subscribers at a pace four times faster than South Africa. Following Iran comes Egypt with 30.8 million active mobile subscribers from 29.4m in March. This rise was driven by the arrival of new entrant.

Algeria and Saudi Arabia have fallen to fifth and sixth as Iran took a leap. Algeria at the end of August had crossed the 30.8 million subscribers, while Saudi Arabia had a total of 29.8million, the sudden rise comes only when nearly a million people come to visit Haj, leave the SIMs inactive once they leave.
Morocco, Kenya and Iraq, shared the same place during March. In August, Morocco stood at 21.4 million, Kenya at 14.3 million  and Iraq at 12.75 million. Tanzania retained the tenth position with 10.1 million subscribers.

   

Batelco gives it’s subscribers, ‘Batelco World Freedom’ (Bahrain)

  • September 26th, 2008
  • 5:26 am

Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunications Company) introduces a new service for it’s subscribers, ‘Batelco World Freedom’. This new service will allow it’s subscribers to recieve free incoming calls from across the world in 21 nations. Subscribers who roam in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Algeria, Norway, Luxemburg, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Moldova, Mozambique, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia will be able to use the service.

   

Algeria’s subscriber base may grow to 36 million in 2010 (Algeria)

  • August 27th, 2008
  • 2:31 pm

The $6.4 billion Algerian telecom market is one of the fastest growing sectors of the country. With fast adoption of mobile services 2003/4, the mobile subscriber base has shown exponential growth over the last three years with a CAGR of 78% during 2004-2007. As of 2007, the Algerian mobile market was 81% penetrated.
Djezzy (Orascom), Mobilis (AT), and Nedjma (Wataniya) together sharing the market.

Notable highlights of the 3Q08 Algeria Mobile Forecast include:

  • Total subscribers in Algeria will increase by 12%, from 32.21 million in 2008 to 36 million in 2010.
  • Djezzy will continue to receive much higher ARPUs than the other two operators. In 2007, Djezzy’s ARPU was $12.34 compared to $7.76 for Nedjma and $3.06 for Mobilis. In 2010, it is forecasted that Djezzy’s ARPU levels will increase slightly to $12.7 per month. We think that market share gains by Nedjma will come primarily from price reductions, and are forecasting a -11.5% reduction in its ARPU over the forecast period. ARPU at Mobilis will remain at $3.06 from 2008 to 2010
  • On average over the forecast period, Djezzy and Nedjma will continue to enjoy some of the highest EBITDA margins in the Middle East (for covered companies). Djezzy will continue to enjoy the highest average EBITDA margin among Algerian operators of 61.5% over the forecast period.
  • Algeria to have the lowest ARPU levels in the African region and operator-wide ARPU levels in Algeria will be US$ 8.13 in 2010.
  • In 2010, the operator which will bill its customers at the lowest rate in our coverage list will be Mobilis in Algeria with an ARPU of only US$ 3.13 per month in 2010.

   

Algeria announces tender for 3G licences

  • May 29th, 2008
  • 2:07 pm

Algeria’s Regulation Authority of Post and Telecommunications (ARPT) yesterday launched the process to issue 3G mobile licences in the country. Local and international parties wishing to participate must register their interest by 30 June. No details were released on the number or type of licences to be issued. The country currently has three mobile network operators; Egyptian Orascom Telecom’s Djezzy, Qatari-owned Wataniya Telecom’s Nedjma and Mobilis, part of state-owned operator Algerie Telecom.

   
 

Minister gives Lacom a boost (Algeria)

  • February 11th, 2008
  • 1:34 pm

Algeria’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications has promised to clear any barriers which are preventing the country’s second national fixed line licensee, Lacom, from competing effectively with incumbent operator Algerie Telecom. Boudjemaa Haichour has been discussing Lacom’s position with his counterpart from Egypt, Tarek Kamel. Lacom is a joint venture between two Egyptian firms, Telecom Egypt and Orascom, but has struggled to make a mark in the Algerian fixed line market, claiming that regulations are helping to maintain the dominance of Algerie Telecom. A report from El Khabar says that Haichour is promising to remove any barriers to competition and resolve problems which are preventing Lacom from doing business. Telecom Egypt and Orascom have both said that they will exit the Algerian market if the regulatory situation does not improve.

   

Mobilis launches USB modem with flat-rate data plan (Algeria)

  • January 24th, 2008
  • 12:42 pm

Algerian mobile operator Mobilis has launched a USB modem and unlimited monthly data plan. The MobiConnect USB key is aimed at both businesses and consumers. It sells from DZD 5,000 with a 12-month data plan at DZD 2,250 per month. The plan also includes 1,000 SMS a month on the Mobilis network. Mobilis operates a nationwide EDGE network, with speeds of up to 236 Kbps in the capital Algiers.