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Wireless Federation » archive for 'MTC Touch'

Lebanese govt. postpones the privatisation of MTC Touch and Alfa

  • December 18th, 2008
  • 6:53 am

The government of Lebanon has postponed the privatisation of the two incumbents,looking at the financial slowdown across the globe, announced The country’s prime minister, Fouad Siniora.
The two Lebanese service providers, MTC Touch and Alfa are currently operating under management contracts with the government, in which the government now plans to sell off the stakes by an IPO, for which during the economic recession will be paid down. “Although the government has postponed privatisation of the mobile sector in view of the great deterioration in the global markets and until matters become clear in those markets, it has decreed pressing reforms in this sector,” says Siniora. The privitisation will call for network expansion and reduced tariffs in order to structure the market.

   

MTC Touch plans an auction for “distinguished” mobile numbers (Lebanon)

  • September 29th, 2008
  • 6:14 am

MTC Touch, Lebanon’s mobile operator, has planned to hold an auction for the “unusual” and “distinguished” mobile numbers, in order to raise funds for the upgradation and expansion of it’s network. According to the Lebanese telecom minister, Jebran Bassil, the auctions will take place on 3 and 8 October. The interested buyers will have to pay USD 200 as registration fees. “We will use all additional revenues from the auction to improve and expand the existing cellular networks,” Bassil said and asked the two operators to organise frequent sale of the priviledge numbers. Sources reveal that the ministry is looking for ways to modernize and expand the capacity of the networks in order to increase the number of subscribers and then reduce the rates. The expansion and modernisation of the networks would increase the value of the cellular lines and allow the government to get a better price from the privatization of the mobile companies.

   

Orascom to join Zain, Batelco in Lebanon mobile auction (Egypt)

  • November 6th, 2007
  • 1:28 pm

Egyptian mobile group Orascom Telecom is considering entering the upcoming auction for one of two state-owned Lebanese mobile network operators, its chairman Naguib Sawiris said yesterday. The Egyptian tycoon dismissed risks of political instability in the country, saying that the main problem would be high prices set by the Lebanese government, which hopes to raise as much as USD7 billion from the sale on 21 February. Sawiris said his group, which has stakes in countries including Iraq, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, was used to political and security risks. ‘This is normal for us…Beirut is like a safe haven,’ he told press. At present, Lebanon’s only two mobile networks – MTC Touch Lebanon and Alfa – are managed under government contracts by Kuwaiti-based Zain Group (formerly MTC Group) and German-Saudi consortium DeTeCon respectively. The state also intends to issue a third mobile licence to fixed line incumbent Ogero Telecom (which will be renamed Liban Telecom). Bahrain’s Batelco has also said it is planning investments in Lebanon as part of a USD4 billion foreign acquisition plan, whilst Zain Group has announced a plan to bid in the auction to remain in the country, although it too has expressed concern over high prices.

   

 

Orascom to join Zain, Batelco in Lebanon mobile auction (Egypt)

  • November 6th, 2007
  • 1:28 pm

Egyptian mobile group Orascom Telecom is considering entering the upcoming auction for one of two state-owned Lebanese mobile network operators, its chairman Naguib Sawiris said yesterday. The Egyptian tycoon dismissed risks of political instability in the country, saying that the main problem would be high prices set by the Lebanese government, which hopes to raise as much as USD7 billion from the sale on 21 February. Sawiris said his group, which has stakes in countries including Iraq, Zimbabwe and Pakistan, was used to political and security risks. ‘This is normal for us…Beirut is like a safe haven,’ he told press. At present, Lebanon’s only two mobile networks – MTC Touch Lebanon and Alfa – are managed under government contracts by Kuwaiti-based Zain Group (formerly MTC Group) and German-Saudi consortium DeTeCon respectively. The state also intends to issue a third mobile licence to fixed line incumbent Ogero Telecom (which will be renamed Liban Telecom). Bahrain’s Batelco has also said it is planning investments in Lebanon as part of a USD4 billion foreign acquisition plan, whilst Zain Group has announced a plan to bid in the auction to remain in the country, although it too has expressed concern over high prices.

   

 

Lebanon plans mobile auction for February 2008 (Lebanon)

  • October 11th, 2007
  • 3:10 pm

The sale of Lebanon’s two mobile network operations is set for February 2008. The presidents of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Higher Privatization Council told The Daily Star they have prepared the invitation for applications to tender. Interested companies will be allowed to buy two-thirds stakes in each of the mobile networks, while the government will retain a third of the shares. The government will then sell part of its shares in a public offering on the Beirut stock market. The tender documents are expected to be made public in a couple weeks, with technical bids due in January. The telecoms minister has said the government hopes to raise USD 5-6 billion from the sale. Lebanon has just over 1 million mobile users who generate over USD 750 million in annual revenues. Currently MTC Touch and Alfa are operating the two networks in a contract with the government in exchange for a monthly fee of USD 4 million each. Their contracts are set to expire in May and June 2008. Around 7-8 to companies have already shown interest in the auction.