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Wireless Federation » archive for 'MTC'

MTN to continue its domination in Nigerian mobile market (Nigeria)

  • September 1st, 2008
  • 6:26 am

With 44 million subscribers, in 2008 Nigeria beats South Africa to become largests mobile market.  New customers are signing up at a rate of almost one per second, and yet market penetration stands at only just over 30%. To expand networks, operators are investing billions of dollars. 3G services have been instigated, and rising competition comes from a number of additional players who have entered the lucrative mobile market under a new unified licensing regime. Falling ARPU levels compelling the operators to introduce new services and transform themselves into converged broadband service providers.

Operators covered for Nigeria include

  • MTN
  • MTC
  • Nitel
  • Globacom

Notable highlights of  Mobile Forecast include:

  • The subscriber base in Nigeria will be increasing rapidly from 2008 to 2010. The number of total subscribers will rise from our current projected 52.7 million to a forecasted 70.8 million in 2010.
  • The level of wireless penetration in the country will also increase from 35.9% in 2008 to 45.5% in 2010.
  • The largest operator in Nigeria will continue to be MTN whose market share in 2010 will be 43.6%. The competitive environment in the Nigerian wireless market to be stable over the next few years with second player (MTC) and third player (Globacom) serving approximately 33.1% and 20.3% of total subscribers respectively.
  • MTN will receive ARPU of US$ 14.57 and will enjoy 52.9% EBITDA margin in 2010 whereas MTC will have ARPU of US$ 8.07 and 39.8% EBITDA margin.

Zain is anticipating to raise $4.5billion (Kuwait)

  • August 12th, 2008
  • 1:02 pm

Mobile Telecommunication Company (MTC), which operates under the name Zain is anticipating to raise $4.5billion via a capital increase.  Existing shareholders are being offered the oppurtunity  to buy new shares up to 75% of the value owned by them at the time in the last meeting of March ‘08. The shares are priced at $3.20 each which includes an issuance premium of KWD0.750. The additional capital will be used by Zain to meet financial commitments and to fund future expansion.

MTC invests $40 million in it’s network infrastructure (Namibia)

  • July 28th, 2008
  • 1:16 pm

MTC, Namibia’s largest cellco, has invested nearly USD40 million (NAD300 million) in its network infrastructure in the year to date, in projects including raising SMS capacity, the deployment of a transmission backbone across several areas of the country and the replacement of central switching equipment with next generation architecture.

The company’s fibre-optic transmission network was extended in areas including the capital Windhoek, coastal regions and in the north, ending MTC’s long-standing reliance on renting backbone capacity from Telecom Namibia. The fibre project was implemented by Nera and Ericsson at a cost of NAD76 million this year. MTC also upgraded its radio access network and wireless broadband service capabilities, in partnership with Nokia Siemens Network and Motorola, at a cost of NAD88 million. MTC’s investments over the last 13 years total NAD1.6 billion.

   

FWA concession won by America Movil (Peru)

  • July 21st, 2008
  • 2:30 pm

A 20-year concession contract has been signed by the Peruvian arm of Mexican mobile giant America Movil, Claro Peru, with the transport and communications ministry (MTC) to offer fixed wireless services. According to the terms of the licence, Claro is expected to deploy 100,000 fixed wireless lines in the provinces of Lima and Callao using the 850MHz and 1900MHz bands. Total investment for the project is expected to reach USD2.5 million within the next five years and USD1.3 million in the first year.

   

Zain still has eyes on foreign expansion (Kuwait)

  • July 5th, 2008
  • 1:20 pm

Kuwait-based operator secures $4.53 billion capital hike green light for overseas investments.
Zain this week said it has been given government approval for a $4.53 billion capital increase in order to fund its foreign expansion plans, reported the Middle East North Africa Financial Network. 

Under the terms of the Kuwaiti mobile operator’s inception decree, it requires the government to OK any capital hikes.

Zain, formerly known as Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), has repeatedly stated its desire for inorganic growth, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.

“We are looking at expanding in Africa and in the next six to 12 months we will definitely take on three African operations,” said Zain Africa CEO Chris Gabriel, in recent press reports.

He also said that the company is exploring the potential of becoming South Africa’s fourth mobile provider, a licence for which is set to be made available by the government in 2009.

In the Middle East, Zain bought 100% of Iraqi operator Iraqna Telecom from Egypt’s Orascom at the end of 2007 for $1.2 billion.

Also last year, the operator successfully led a consortium that bid $6.1 billion for Saudi Arabia’s third mobile licence. Reports in mid-June said that Zain was gearing up to launch trial network operations that will run until September.

Recent reports have also linked the telco to a possible merger with India’s Bharti Airtel, a claim dismissed by both companies on Thursday, although Zain has confirmed it is studying growth opportunities in the country.

In fact, as Total Telecom Magazine featured in March, Zain has made 20 acquisitions totalling $15 billion in the Middle East and Africa since April 2003. And it isn’t the only operator in the region aggressively extending its reach.

Qatar Telecom (QTel) this week filed a tender offer for all the outstanding shares of Indosat, having paid $1.8 billion for a 40.8% stake in the Indonesian mobile operator in June.

U.A.E.-based operator Etisalat in May raised its stake in West African player Atlantic Telecom to 82%. Atlantic owns majority stakes in telcos in the Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Togo, amongst others.

In the same month the company said it was exploring the possibility of launching a bid for South Africa’s MTN, which is currently in the midst of what has become a complex series of negotiations with India’s Reliance Communications.

What’s more Etisalat this week signed an MoU with France Telecom to collaborate on home services and content, as well as an agreement to put in place preferred international roaming within each other’s footprint.

Meanwhile, the French incumbent is also on the expansion trail, revealing that it has not ruled out the possibility of partnering with Algeria’s Djezzy, owned by Orascom, as a means of entering the north-east African country.

   

Zain signs up Nokia Siemens for Saudi network (Saudi Arabia)

  • January 7th, 2008
  • 2:33 pm

Mobile operator Zain has awarded a contract worth USD 935 million to Nokia Siemens Networks to build its mobile network in Saudi Arabia. The greenfield project includes the roll-out of 2G and 3G networks, including HSDPA and HSUPA technology and base stations based on the latest 3GPP release 4 standard. Nokia Siemens Networks will supply core and radio networks, operations and business support systems, applications and a full suite of services, including managed services for five years from a local network operations centre. Nokia Siemens Networks will also provide Zain with its convergent prepaid system, charge@once select, for voice and data. Nokia Siemens Networks is the sole supplier of Zain’s core network, including its MSC Server mobile softswitch and IP Multimedia Subsystem. Zain, formerly known as MTC, was awarded the third mobile operator licence in Saudi Arabia last year.

   

2007 CEO Achievements

  • December 22nd, 2007
  • 8:07 am

According to sources, Some of the biggest achievers selected for Communication Awards 2007:  

Allen Timpany, CEO, Vanco
 VNO pioneer. Now every value-added reseller wants to be the “next Vanco”.
 
Arun Sarin, Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone Group
 His deals with Google and eBay “started the Mobile Internet”. That’ll be the one regularly used by 6% of mobile owners, then.

Ben Verwaayen, CEO, BT
 Split local access and services in UK as an example for all the other EU countries. Then took over the broadband revolution. But has he reached the crest of the New Wave?

Bill Gates, Founder and Chairman, Microsoft Corp
 He may be adrift in online adland, but his company’s Communications Server has brought the LAN to life.
 
Carl Henrik Svanberg, CEO, Ericsson
 Has kept the strategy clear and built a leadership position in wireless into a total communications offer whilst others have dug themselves deeper into their problems.

Cesar Alierta, President, Telefonica
 Last of the great global Telco heroes? No blockbuster deals last year though.
 
Chua Sock Koong, CEO, SingTel
 SingTel veteran Chua is in the regional hotseat; tasked with making sense of the company’s expansionist strategy across Southeast Asia to Australia.

Dayanidhi Maran, Telecom Minister, India
 Revolutionised the Indian telecom scenario with liberalised policies, promoting Foreign Direct Investments and providing clear strategies for mobile and broadband expansion.

Dr. Saad Al Barrak, Deputy chairman and managing director, MTC
 MTC Group’s champion has transformed the Kuwaiti operator into a regional investment player. Can he take his 3×3x3 strategy global?

Ed Whitacre, Chairman and CEO, AT&T
 Retiring after driving telecom consolidation, with the integration of SBC, Cingular and AT&T. Now going after Telecom Italia and the iPhone.

Helmut Leopold, Head of Platform and Technology Management, Telekom Austria AG
 Put Engerwitzdorf on Europe’s IPTV map. Leads development of IPTV and IP-driven multimedia services at Telekom Austria, as well as president of the Broadband Services Forum (BSF). .

Ildar Zhuravlev, Partner, Ernst & Young
 He is one of the most influential persons in the Russian telecom sector. He provides consulting services to 18 of top 20 major Russian telcos. At least he isn’t being called a revolutionary.

Ivar Plahte, CEO, OnRelay
 ”Defining the next era of [mobile] PBX.” Cisco, Nortel, IBM, Verizon, and others are following his lead, some say.

John Chambers, CEO, Cisco Systems
 He’s putting Cisco on Second Life. That’s how determined he is to win this award again.
 
John Legere, CEO, Global Crossing
 Two years ago a $24 billion accounting ‘fresh start’ helped bring GX back to life. Now it is a model for how to use IT to speed up your telecoms services delivery.

John Pluthero, Executive Chairman , Cable & Wireless
 He’s “blown the whistle on the telecoms industry” for its lack of  customer care, apparently.And he knows how to reinvigorate a demoralised company.

Josep A. Aliagas, CEO, Arena Mobile
 This content aggregator is currently working in 60 countries and with 110 mobile operators as well as worldwide Media Groups including Shanghai Media Group in the mobile TV area in China. China is potentially the biggest revenue generator in the industry and Arena Mobile is the leading company in China.

Larry Page, Co-founder, Google
 Telcos are running a bit less scared now Google is concentrating on TV and radio advertisers. 
 
N Srinath, CEO, VSNL
 ”The CEO of the last year”, according to one nomination. He has “single-handedly” changed VSNL from an incumbent niche operator to a multinational telecom player, according to another. He must have a little help, though.

Niklas Zennstrom, Co-founder, Joost TV
 Since he sold Skype to eBay, the IP telephony service has reached 150 million users, reducing the price paid from $68 million to $23 million - per subscriber.

Patricia Russo, CEO, Alcatel-Lucent
 Running a combination “too big, too exotic and too powerful to be ignored.”
 
Phuthuma Nhleko, President & CEO, MTN Group
 Phuthuma has revolutionalised telecoms in Africa and the Middle East by providing telecoms to 21 countries in MEA.

Sol Trujillo, CEO, Telstra
 ”Creating a Telstra that is more adaptable to market needs.” Really? The “only real ass-kicker and visionary in the industry”. That’s more like it!

Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple
 He seems to understand consumers better than most. The iPhone has raised expections high this time.
 
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman - Bharti Group, Bharti Airtel
 A “Telecoms Tsar”- in India? No, he’s “a revolutionary”. He can’t be both.
 
Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner, EU
 She has upset mobile operators, NextGen network builders and even outsourcing associations, so she must be doing something right.
 

Vodafone wins Qatar mobile licence (Qatar)

  • December 11th, 2007
  • 2:45 pm

Vodafone has won the second mobile licence in Qatar, according to an announcement from local regulator IctQatar. Vodafone and its partner the Qatar Foundation submitted the highest bid in the auction for the licence, beating out rivals Verizon, AT&T, MTC and Etisalat. The winner is expected to launch services in 2008, competing against incumbent operator Qatar Telecom. The regulator did not provide any details on how much Vodafone will pay for the licence. This will be Vodafone’s first self-run operation in the Middle East; it previously had partner agreements with MTC in Kuwait and Bahrain.

   

Zain Saudi Arabia to launch by mid-2008 (Saudi Arabia)

  • November 5th, 2007
  • 1:40 pm

Saudi Arabia’s third cellular operator, Zain, is expecting to launch in the first half of next year. The firm’s CEO, Marwan Al Ahmadi, says there is no intention of starting a price war with the country’s two existing cellcos, STC and Mobily, ITPnet reports. Al Ahmadi adds that he expects cellular penetration in Saudi Arabia to reach 100% by 2010. Zain Saudi Arabia is part-owned by the Kuwait-based Zain group, which was formerly known as MTC. STC and Mobily were serving more than 22 million subscribers at the end of June.

   

 

MTC awards concession to Itaca (Peru)

  • October 24th, 2007
  • 7:28 am

Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) has published a resolution to grant local firm Itaca Peru a 20-year concession to provide public telephony services, writes BNamericas citing local press. The MTC resolution stipulates that Itaca Peru must sign the licence within 60 days or forfeit the concession. Itaca Peru won a tender in July to install, operate and maintain broadband internet services in rural communities in the south-central, north and south regions of Peru. Another consortium, Rural Telecom, won a concession to operate internet services in the central, north-central and east-central regions. Under the terms of the project, the operators should deploy all the necessary infrastructure to provide broadband services in 2,840 communities, install 1,535 public telephones and offer residential telephony in 95 communities across the country. The project winners will receive USD15.1 million in financing from the government’s telecoms investment fund Fitel.