Skip to Content »

Wireless Federation » archive for 'Celtel'

Celtel completes the WESTEL privatisation by paying USD115 million (Ghana)

  • September 15th, 2008
  • 12:55 pm

Celtel completes the payment of USD115 million to the Ghanian government in order to complete the part privatisation of  Western Telesystems Limited (WESTEL).
The Ministry of Information and National Orientation has reportedly said that it has recieved Celtel’s payment of its 66.67% shareholding in WESTEL which concludes the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA). This leaves a balance of USD5 million which will be paid on the completion of due diligence, it said.

   

Econet Wireless makes a move to pilot its network (Kenya)

  • September 10th, 2008
  • 12:32 pm

Econet Wireless Kenya will start testing its network later this month. Ericsson is working with operator for the launch of network. The Ericsson team has been working round the clock to ensure the delivery and installation of a functional network service within the shortest possible time, Thomas Sonesson,Vendor’s Managing Director, said. Econet is ready to compete with the two well-established cellular players, Safaricom and Celtel and also with wireline operator Telkom Kenya who set to roll out a mobile network soon. According to Michael Foley,Econet Wireless Kenya’s managing director, there are a lot of challenges in building a business from the bottom up. Our plan is to give our customers a unique offering and offer better service than our competitors.

Econet granted two - month extension for it’s network deployment (Kenya)

  • August 19th, 2008
  • 1:56 pm

Econet Wireless has been granted a 2 month extension regarding it’s rollout deadline after it’s petition to the government for more time to deploy its networks.
The company has got an extension till November to launch it’s network commercially.
According to the company, the rollout was hampered by the violence that followed disputed general elections last December.
After the launch, Econet will be competing against Safaricom and Celtel, with more competition soon to be introduced from wireline service provider Telkom Kenya.

   

Stiff Competition in Kenya Mobile market, Safaricom shares drop

  • August 7th, 2008
  • 1:43 pm

Cut throat competition in Kenya’s mobile phone market which is going to affect Safaricom’s mobile market share by almost 25 %in the years ahead. The Chief Financial Officer Les Baillie said that Safaricom would fight to continue to keep its paying corporate customers by offering a variety of services, including newly-launched third generation technology. Soon, Kenya mobile market is going to be served by Johannesburg-based Econet Wireless and Telkom Kenya which is anticipated to affect safaricom and Celtel. According to media report, Safaricom has floated on the Nairobi stock exchange in June, Vodafone however leads the group which it has 40 percent stake in the firm.  Price of Safaricom shares 5.70 shillings compared to the previous days 5.80 shillings. Baillie  further said that the new competitors will take time to build up coverage and a distribution network since the company has locked in its own vendors.

Zain cuts roaming charges to nil

  • August 6th, 2008
  • 11:46 am

Celtel, is extending it’s One Network Scheme across Africa and the Middle East, making a commercial advantage over its rivals like MTN and Vodacom. This expansion will cut down the high roaming fees.

The One Network Scheme will spread to 17 out of 22 countries where Zain operates after it launches networks in Saudi Arabia and Ghana. Zain subscribers will now be able to travel from Arabia to East West Africa with using one local tariff and no roaming charges. Top up and recharge cards will be available for the pre-paid subscribers at one of million of outlets available. In the network countries, the subscribers will not pay for the incoming calls.

“Our immediate plans are to expand in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. These are the emerging markets, the neediest markets, the most lucrative markets and highest growth markets,” said Barrak.
“With mergers and acquisitions you have to be clandestine — as we speak we are considering two or three merger and acquisition opportunities,” added Barrak.

   

Econet Wireless rebranded as Zain in Nigeria (Nigeria)

  • August 5th, 2008
  • 10:23 am

Nigerian’s Telecommunication company which was originally known as Econet Wireless is rebranded as Zain. According to a Analyst, the company wants the recognition in the global market. Zain Nigeria Ltd Chief Executive Officer, CEO Mr Adebayo Ligali, said the decision to rebrand was informed by the company’s determination to establish a global brand which would drive efficiency across their targeted market, create brand equity and improve the shareholders. “The rebranding to Zain underlines our ambition to become a top ten global mobile telecommunications company by 2011, building on our heritage and successes in Africa and the Middle East. A strong, distinctive brand name has always been the prerequisite for any company with global aspiration.

The company aspires to make the Zain brand a top 100 global brand.The brand is part of a process that began when the Zain group bought Celtel in 2005. Since then, we have been developing a new brand and company identity which could apply to all our group markets and which would be relevant and exciting to all our customers regardless of where they live,” he further added.

However, the company is now well positioned to offer the customers more innovative products and services with best network services across Africa and the middle East, adding that the customers will now readily benefit from a respected and recognized global brand that provides them with consistent qualitative service, Ligali, said Plans to expand the comapny to all their operational networks in Africa , this will allow the customers to move across geographical borders without roaming calls surcharge and without having to pay to receive incoming calls, he added.

Only 7 companies to bid for 3rd Mobile licence in Rwanda

  • July 30th, 2008
  • 12:50 pm

Only seven companies shows interest in third mobile licence of Rawanda. According to source, relatively low interest may be to do with flaws in the tender process. Seven companies are Vitel Holdings, Larrycom For Investment, Essar Telecom, Comium Group, Celtel, Millicom, and Easymobile Communications.There has been criticism of the government’s policy of extending invitations to bid to preferred companies, and not instead having a widely advertised public tender with bidding documents made available to everyonone.
Closing date is 30 september, RURA will select the top three bidders. Final decision will be taken by the State Ministry of ICT, which will make the final decision before the end of the year.

Celtel plans to invest $70m for its network (Zambia)

  • July 29th, 2008
  • 7:14 am

An effort to boost the subscriber base from 2.3 million to 2.7 million, Celtel Zambia has announced plans to spend some $70 million on its network.  The firm reported  net profit for the 6 months rose to $34.3 million compared to $29.9 million in the same period last year.

The company, which controlled by Zain, offered 20% of its stock for the floatation. The sale was three-times oversubscribed from both domestic and overseas investors. The current shareholder profile is 78.9% held by Zain - via Celtel International, 20% in free float and 1.1% held by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

“Customer numbers exceeded 2.3 million in June. We are optimistic we will reach our target of 2.7 million, said Celtel Zambia MD David Venn. High taxes on imports of network infrastructure kit of 25% is hampering the company’s plans warned Venn. The company is lobbying the government to have this tax lowered, and also on licenses for 3G services.

Statistics shows that Celtel ended last year with just under 2 million customers - and a market share of nearly 78%. The country itself has a population penetration level of just 21% and two other operators, Zamtel and MTN.

Celtel Nigeria launches fixed payphone service (Nigeria)

  • June 10th, 2008
  • 2:22 pm

Celtel Nigeria has launched a fixed payphone service targeting Nigerians unable to afford mobile phones or who live or work in places where mobile phone use is restricted. The service consists of a fixed payphone terminal and a special SIM card which can be carried about and recharged like a normal pre-paid SIM card. The operator claims the offering will help the government’s Universal Access Initiative which is aimed at increasing telecoms access across the country.

   

 

 

Celtel Malawi to invest USD90 million in network upgrade

  • June 4th, 2008
  • 3:01 pm

Celtel Malawi, a subsidiary of Middle East and African telecoms firm Zain Group, says it plans to invest USD90 million in its financial year 2008/09 to improve its network and extend coverage to all parts of the country. The operator also hopes to use part of the monies set aside to enable it to reduce the cost of its handsets. The decision to cut mobile phone costs is a result of the government’s recent initiative to implement new tax measures, it said. In the 2008/2009 national budget presentation, the government announced it was scrapping a 25% customs duty and excise on imported handsets, but introducing in its place a 10% domestic excise tax on airtime.