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Wireless Federation » archive for 'STC'

VIVA launches in Kuwait, competes with Zain and Wataniya

  • December 1st, 2008
  • 7:40 am

Kuwait’s third mobile operator VIVA will commence operations from Wednesday with the competition in market soaring up. STC’s VIVA has to compete with giants like Zain and Wataniya. As quoted in September Chief Executive Najeeb Alawadhi said that VIVA aims to attract 300,000 subscribers in its first year of operation.
   

Axis selects AIRCOM for network expansion support (Indonesia)

  • November 19th, 2008
  • 9:50 am

AIRCOM International, the leading independent network planning and optimisation consultancy, announced that it has been selected by Indonesia’s AXIS, to support the operator”s drive for increased penetration across the country.
AXIS is the country’s newest network operator, having rolled out GSM cellular services across Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumatra in 2008. It is now rapidly expanding its 2G and 3G networks to major market and population centres throughout Indonesia, and has purchased the CONNECT microwave planning tool from AIRCOM”s ENTERPRISE suite to support the expansion.
CONNECT will provide additional site visibility across the AXIS microwave network, meaning it will be able to rapidly plan and optimise single or entire network links in both its 2G and 3G networks.
“It is our mission to provide the Indonesian public with innovative and affordable wireless communications services that can be accessed right across the country, at any time of day,” says Ikrema Hamzah, Head of Transmission Planning at AXIS. “In order to do this, we needed additional expertise that could help us plan our expansion quickly, without having an adverse effect on the service provided to our existing customers. As existing users of AIRCOMs radio planning tool, ASSET, we knew we could depend on AIRCOM to deliver a competitive, reliable solution.”
With AXIS offices distributed throughout Indonesia, remote access to the database was a necessary requirement to support the network expansion. With AIRCOM’s unique single database, Axis engineers can gain remote access from anywhere in the world, meaning any discrepancies from transferring data between islands is immediately eliminated. This gives AXIS the clearest view possible of its nationwide network.
Commenting on the deal, Nick Brown Managing Director, Asia Pacific at AIRCOM said: “With AXIS set to expand rapidly across the Indonesian archipelago, its biggest challenge will be maintaining service delivery while ensuring transmission networks are optimised to protect fragile financial margins. With CONNECT integrated into the networks, AXIS will be able to plan every minor detail of its expansion and drive efficiency by removing unnecessary costs. We look forward to working with them to deliver top-drawer communication services across the country.”
Implementation of CONNECT into the AXIS network is already underway, with engineer training set to be conducted later this month.

About AIRCOM International

AIRCOM is an independent provider of network and data management tools and services. The company specialises in end-to-end network planning, sharing, outsourcing and OSS optimisation for IP and cellular networks.
Headquartered in the UK with offices in 18 countries, AIRCOM has more than 10 years experience across 131 countries for over half the world’s mobile operators, including more than 3.5 million man hours working on 3G networks alone. Every day 19 out of the 20 top global operators depend upon AIRCOM”s tools and consultants to improve the coverage and customer experience for more than 1.1 billion subscribers.
AIRCOM continues to grow its customer base each year, offering advice, training and support services, backed by high performance tools designed to deliver real benefits for both subscribers and operators.
For more information please visit www.aircominternational.com

About AXIS
AXIS launched in February 2008 and is already available in over 90 cities across East Java, West Java, Jabodetabek, Banten, Central Java, Bali, Lombok, Medan, Riau Islands and Riau Mainland. With up to 80 base stations being built every week, AXIS national network expansion is progressing aggressively. AXIS” vision is to provide affordable communications to all Indonesians. AXIS is owned by Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the no. 1 GSM operator in Saudi Arabia, and by Maxis Communications, the no. 1 GSM operator in Malaysia. Together, these companies serve more than 45 million customers with operations in 9 countries.

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

STC, Astro & SRMG in mobile content JV with a capital of $74.8 million (Saudi Arabia)

  • October 30th, 2008
  • 7:16 am

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) in association with Astro All Asia Networks of Malaysia and Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) set up a new mobile content services company. The firm reportedly has a capital of USD74.8 million, will be 51% owned by STC, with Astro holding 29% and SRMG 20%. According to STC, the firm will have a potential customer base of 70 million.

STC reports net profits of $803.7Mn in Q3′08, plans expansion (Saudi Arabia)

  • October 30th, 2008
  • 6:37 am

STC posts a fall in Q3′08 net profits driven by increased costs related to expansions in the Middle East and Asia. Net profit slipped to SAR3.01 billion ($803.7 million) from SAR3.14 billion in 2007. Operating revenues rose by 58% to SAR13.54 billion while operating profit were up by 20.5% at SAR4.2 billion.
STC  has won third mobile licence in Kuwait and also shown interests in operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and India through its 25% stake in Malaysia’s Maxis Communications. Additionally, it owns 35% of Dubai-based Oger Telecom which has telecoms operations in Turkey, South Africa, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Jordan, and it is among the bidders for a 25% stake in Oman’s dominant wireline and wireless operator Omantel.

   

KTC announces its wireless brand name ‘Viva’ (Kuwait)

  • September 18th, 2008
  • 1:48 pm

According to a local media report Kuwait Telecom Company (KTC) has announced its wireless brand name ‘Viva’ and said that it will start commercial operations by the end of 2008. CEO of Viva’s parent Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Saud Bin Majed Al-Duwaish said that Viva would spare no effort to keep pace with the fast-developing world of telecommunications technology to bring its clients the latest innovations. According to Viva CEO Najeeb Al-Awadi, it was not easy to be the third mobile company to enter the Kuwaiti market.

   

STC completes network expansion to raise the capacity (Saudi Arabia)

  • September 17th, 2008
  • 9:07 am

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) completes the work of raising its network capacity in the areas surrounding the mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
Under the project, the firm established a number of new stations, expansion of the existing and extending the capacity of base control stations, switchboards and signal and communication systems.

   

Kuwait Telecom inaugrates it’s commercial brand, Viva (Kuwait)

  • September 17th, 2008
  • 8:36 am

Kuwait Telecom inaugrates it’s commercial brand, Viva, representing transparency and commitment towards it’s subscribers. The new brand will offer advanced and integrated subscriber services, as it launches in Kuwaiti mobile market. According Mr. Al-Duwaish, CEO STC, Viva will add a value to the Kuwaiti mobile market through it’s diversified service.

   

Third mobile company in Kuwait to have IPO. (Kuwait)

  • August 25th, 2008
  • 6:33 am

According to the officials,  For the emirate’s third mobile phone company which is expected to start operating later this year, Kuwait has launched an initial public offering (IPO). Initial Public Offering (IPO) is  referred to simply as a “public offering”, is when a company issues common stock or shares to the public for the first time. They are often issued by smaller, younger companies seeking capital to expand, but can also be done by large privately-owned companies looking to become publicly traded.
IPO, open until September 18, half of Kuwait Telecom Company’s capital of 500 million shares will be available to Kuwaiti citizens only for a nominal price of 100 fils (37 cents) plus a five fils premium per share.

Salman al-Badran, head of the new mobile phone project, said that the IPO will raise $98.3 million.

Last Year, Saudi Telecom (largest Arab telecommunications firm) was in a move to become the main operator, won a 26% stake in Kuwait Telecom Company after bidding $931.4 million. Presently, STC is serving 20 million mobile subscribers of the ninth richest country in the world per capita, Landlines has even cross the mark of five million.

Kuwait Telecom sale begins on 22 August (Kuwait)

  • August 19th, 2008
  • 1:41 pm

STC’s subsidiary in Kuwait is selling off a 25% stake worth KWD25 million (USD93 million).
The sale, reportedly, will begin on 22nd August, will come as a part of the deal agreed when STC was awarded Kuwait’s third national GSM licence in November 2007.
Kuwait Telecom, will also  a 25% interest to government-backed institutions including the Kuwait Investment Authority and the Public Institute for Social Security. STC’s local partners will receive a 24% stake while the Saudi telco will retain a 26% share.

   

STC’s unique way of wishing India and Pakistan a ‘Happy Independence Day’ (Saudi Arabia)

  • August 13th, 2008
  • 9:15 am

To mark the national holidays of India and Pakistan, Saudi Telecom is offering 50% discount on all calls to India and pakistan. The offer will begin in Pakistan at 12midnight and in India at 12 midnight on Aug.15 and continue for a period of 24 hours. This unique offer will cover all types of prepaid cards and Al-Hatif, Al-Jawal, Sawa, Lana services. Saad Al-Qahtani, Vice President of STC for Home Business Unit, said that this offer strengthens Saudi Arabia’s bilateral relations with both Pakistan and India.