Mobile operators in Iraq prepare for the IPO process (Iraq)

On 11.08.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission has reportedly asked the country’s three operators, Zain Iraq, Asiacell and Korek to offer a quarter of their shares on the Iraq Stock Exchange by August 2012. As per industry sources, the IPO (Initial Public Offering) process could raise over US$ 3 billion for the three operators and if successful, could also double the size of the country’s stock market to $ 8 billion.

However, sources claim that concerns have been raised over the ability of the domestic investors to carry the expected size of the flotation given the challenging capital markets elsewhere in the world. According to reports, in an attempt to increase the shareholder base, banks are considering bringing in international investors along with the domestic investors.

As per sources, the banks chosen for the process include Citigroup, BNP Paribas and NBK for Zain Iraq; HSBC and Morgan Stanley for Asiacell while Korek is yet to finalise its advisors for the deal.

 

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Asiacell to provide mobile solutions in Northern Iraq using the Altobridge lite-site solution

On 08.30.11, In Mobile Operators, Mobile services, Mobile Solutions, By Editor

Asiacell, the first telecom company to provide coverage for all 18 provinces in Iraq, is reportedly planning to roll out mobile voice, broadband and SMS services in remote areas across Iraq, with the help of the Altobridge lite-site solution. Initially, the solution will be deployed in communities in Sulaimaniya in Northern Iraq.

As per reports, Dr. Diar Ahmed Asiacell CEO, claims that the Altobridge lite-site is a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution that helps optimize capital budgets while minimizing backhaul. Further, Mike Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer at Altobridge, says that their solution is optimized for solar power, thereby removing the high cost barriers of diesel generators.

If sources are to be believed, the Altobridge lite-site, which combines the 2G/3G and VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) technologies, uses 50% less backhaul than competing optimized solutions and offers quick and easy deployment with the compact, all-in-one design of the altoPod.

 

Filed under:Mobile Operators,Mobile services,Mobile Solutions  Tagged with: • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Asiacell, the official sponsor of the National Iraqi Olympic Committee and the Iraqi Football Association

On 03.21.11, In Mobile, By Editor

In an effort to play an activate role within the Iraqi community, and as part of its dedication to supporting Iraqi sports, Asiacell – the first and largest Iraqi telecommunications company and the only mobile telecom company providing coverage for all of Iraq – has announced the signing of a sponsorship agreement with the National Iraqi Olympic Committee. Under the agreement, inked by Mr. Swar Ahmed on behalf of Asiacell CEO Dr. Diar Ahmed, Asiacell will exclusively sponsor all the Committee’s activities and the Iraqi Football Association’s national teams.

This sponsorship comes to affirm Asiacell’s continued effort in contributing to the progress of the Iraqi society, and giving back to the local community in various fields. It also highlights the company’s commitment to developing Iraqi sports in general and football in particular as worldwide popular game.

“We believe that sports can serve as an instrumental tool in social development. This sponsorship showcases our true sense of belonging, as an Iraqi company, to our society and reflects our sincere interest in supporting various sporting, cultural and artistic initiatives that bring true value to our country,” said Dr. Ahmed. He added that by partnering with the National Olympic Committee and the Iraqi Football Association, Asiacell would be better positioned to actively support Iraq’s talented national football team.

In turn, Mr. Raid Hamudy, Head of Iraqi Olympic Committee, and Mr. Najh Hmud, Assistance Head of Iraqi Football Association, expressed pleasure at signing the sponsorship agreement with Asiacell, and commended the vital role that the company plays in upgrading the Iraqi telecoms market. They also highlighted the positive impact that Asiacell’s CSR programs and initiatives have had on the local community, and lauded its contributions towards rebuilding Iraq.

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Iraq expects to raise $2 bn from 4th mobile license sale

On 03.14.11, In Mobile, By Editor

The Iraqi government is hoping to raise around US$2 billion from auctioning off the country’s fourth mobile operator license by the end of the year.

According to the Communications Minister, Mohammed Allawi, the government will allocate at least a quarter of the license fee towards improving the country’s telecom’s infrastructure.

Mohammed Allawi also stated that he wants to improve landline services, and use that to boost internet penetration to 25% within five years. 40% of the shares will go to the operator, 35% of the shares to the public, and 25% of the shares to the ministry.

The government has been increasingly frustrated by what it says is poor service from the existing three networks – although they cite the difficult security situation and repeated attacks on their networks as a primary cause.

The minister stated that while network jamming by security forces was partly to blame for patchy mobile coverage, the operators’ infrastructure had been unable to cope with growing demand.

Both France Telecom and Etisalat are claimed to be in talks to take a stake in the smallest Iraqi operator, Korek Telecom, although the availability of an independent license may prove more alluring to the bidders.

The country has three operators, Zain, Asiacell and Korek Telecom.

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Asiacell blocks phone calls to 5 million illegal SIM Cards (Iraq)

On 03.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

­Asiacell had announced that it has complied with a letter from the regulator instructing it to cease calls to a batch of 5-million allegedly illegal SIM cards.

The networks are supposed to get permission before releasing new capacity on their networks, and Zain has been fined US$262 million for releasing 5 million SIM cards, apparently without permission.

In the letter, the regulator, CMC has ordered all telecom companies to immediately discontinue their interconnection with unlicensed lines under threat of litigation. Based on these directives, Asiacell has disconnected these lines to avoid legal ramifications.

Asiacell also stated that it is considering legal action against Zain for hindering its ability to supply the Iraqi market with the necessary amount of SIM cards and forcing Asiacell to reuse old lines for some of its offers.

The company also claimed that Zain’s actions have resulted in limiting the amount of lines available to Asiacell, which has stunted the company’s ability to launch new offers that benefit Iraqis in various provinces.

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Qtel reports record 2010 revenue of US$7.5 billion

On 03.02.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) announced that 2010 full year Group revenue increased 13.1% to end 2010 at QAR27.2 billion (US$7.47 billion), as the Group’s consolidated customer base reached 74.1 million (FY 2009: 60.4 million).

Distributable earnings for 2010 including profits from the Nawras IPO taken directly to retained earnings increased by 21.3% to QAR3.4 billion (US$927.5 million). Earnings per Share (EPS) for 2010 grew 2.2% to QAR 19.69.

As part of the Group’s diversification strategy, Qtel has maintained solid operational and financial progress, successfully balancing the management of competitive pressure to maintain market share in mature markets with the ongoing development of operations in growth markets.

Key highlights of the year include the roll-out of Fibre-to-the-Home in Qatar, the successful implementation of a value-driven strategy by Indosat in Indonesia, strong revenue growth in Algeria leading to a first annual net profit for Nedjma, the successful defence of market leadership position in Tunisia, the launch of fixed line and home broadband services by Nawras in Oman and continued subscriber growth for Asiacell in Iraq.

The Group also successfully launched IPOs in Oman and Palestine, saw strong support for a 10-year Bond for Indosat and for the Qtel Group’s bond sale, which was more than ten times oversubscribed.

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) provides a full range of telecommunications services in Qatar and across its presence in 17 countries. Our vision is to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world by 2020 through expansion in both the MENA region and South East Asia.

 

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Asiacell Implements New Electronic HR System in Cooperation with Intracom

On 01.13.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Within its efforts to provide the best telecom services to its subscribers, Asiacell – the first and largest Iraqi telecommunications company and the only mobile telecom company providing coverage for all of Iraq – announced that it is implementing a new and advanced electronic HR system at the company.

The first phase of implementing the project will include maintenance and technical support in addition to a number of Oracle based HR tasks that will be installed by Intracom IT Services in Middle East and North Africa, including the Oracle HR System, salary scheme, time management and recruitment. This new HR system will increase the overall efficiency of the HR processes at the company.

The system aims at improving the level of reports that are composed to support various administrative decisions, the monitoring of employee performance, and the development of salary scales, bonuses and various deductions with the utmost precision in order to increase overall efficiency and reduce costs. The Oracle based system is able to easily integrate with other existing applications at the company which will simplify the exchange of information and help achieve Asiacell’s goals of reaching the highest standards of productivity.

Once the first phase of the project is complete, Asiacell will be implementing the second phase which will include applying a number of additional systems that are related to the overall system including the Oracle Self Service HR System, the Oracle Learning Management System and the Oracle Performance Management System.

Commenting on this leading step, Miss Nian Abdulla, HR & Administration Director at Asiacell, said: “This HR project reflects our deep interest in modernizing the technologies we use in order to enhance the performance of our human resource capabilities and in turn provide the best telecom services to our subscribers who deserve the most outstanding services.”

Miss Nian Abdulla went on to add: “In spite of the challenges we are facing on a number of fronts, Asiacell continuously strives to develop its performance and improve the level of services on offer to exceed the expectations of our subscribers. Intracom are an ideal partner to achieve our goals and we look forward to finalizing all the phases of our project in the near future.”

In turn, Mr. Tarq Abu Sharar – General Manger in Intracom IT Services in Middle East and North Africa said: “We would first like to thank Asiacell for their trust in our services and reiterate how pleased we are to be cooperating with them on this project. We are confident that the project will enhance the company’s infrastructure and internal workflow. I would also like to take this opportunity to commend this ambitious company for its ongoing efforts to modernize and develop its services despite the difficult circumstances it is facing. This company’s serious commitment to success is something that all subscribers should look for.”

Mr.Zardasht Banaye, HR & Administration Senior Manger at Asiacell and the project Manger  and  also spoke about how proud she was of this project, and said: “Asiacell’s adoption of this advanced Oracle based HR system is indeed an achievement in keeping abreast with the latest ICT developments. We are confident that this system will allow us to uniquely offer the highest and most efficient performance indicators in the Iraqi market.”

Mr.Banaye add that: “Asiacell is about to implement  the Oracle financial and  management systems, and the implementation of these projects will help Iraq  to have  an electronic government system.”

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Asiacell to extend mobile network in 2011 (Iraq)

On 12.24.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Iraqi mobile operator Asiacell Communications, a group including Asiacell Iraq (30%), Qatar Telecom (Qtel, 30%) and investment group Merchant Bridge (40%), has signed a network expansion agreements with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) and Ericsson, as it is planning to expand its service footprint in the country.

According to the cellco’s Chief Technical and IT officer, Patson Anius, the supply contracts will allow the operator to introduce advanced services tailored to the domestic market. Next year, they will be further expanding their network coverage to include small villages and residential communities in remote areas. They look forward to breaking their own GSM deployment record in Iraq next year.

Asiacell is one of the three cellcos licensed to provide national mobile services, having been awarded its concession in August 2007 at a cost of US$1.25 billion.

In 2009 it deployed 1,490 base transceiver stations (BTSs) on its network, thanks to the build-out of 950 new communication towers, and improved the service capabilities of 450 other cell sites. At the end of September 2010 Asiacell had 7.917 million mobile subscribers, placing it second in the market with a share of 34.8%. It competes with Zain Iraq, Korek Telecom and SanaTel.

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

Asiacell Launches International Airtime Transfer Service in Partnership with TransferTo

On 11.23.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Asiacell – the first and largest Iraqi telecommunication company and the only mobile telecom company providing coverage for all of Iraq – and TransferTo, a leading provider of international airtime remittance services, announced the launch of Asiacell’s International Airtime Transfer service.

With this new service, Asiacell and TransferTo will enable Iraqis living abroad to send small value transfers to their relatives and friends in Iraq in the form of prepaid top-ups. Low in cost, high in value, international prepaid mobile top-ups are the ideal complement to money remittances.

Whether residing in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Spain, the USA, Qatar, Kuwait or any other country that is part of TransferTo network, any Iraqi will be able to recharge an Asiacell prepaid phone of their choice in Iraq. TransferTo prepaid airtime transfers are performed in real-time, and are convenient and readily available through a number of multiple channels including POS-to-Phone, Phone-to-Phone, and Web-to-Phone.

Cross border top-ups offered by Asiacell will allow transfers in the following amounts: IQD 5.000, IQD 10.000, IQD 25.000, and IQD 100.000. Available at www.transferto.com with payments possible in over 250.000 POS across Europe, Australia and Canada, the service will also be offered in other regions such as the USA and a number of Gulf countries including Kuwait, KSA, Qatar and the UAE amongst others. Transfers are completed through TransferTo’s distribution partners including POS retailers and partner Mobile Network Operators that offer Phone-to-Phone airtime transfer services.

Eric Barbier, TransferTo CEO, said: “I am convinced that Iraqis living abroad will find great value in this service, enabling them to make instant gifts to their loved ones in Iraq. Asiacell is a major addition to the network of partner Mobile Network Operators that have joined the TransferTo Global Airtime Remittance Hub.”

“As the operator with the largest domestic coverage in Iraq, we are yet again confirming our commitment to offer products and services that meet the needs of our Iraqi subscribers wherever they are,” said Mr. Goran Mahmood, Wholesale and Roaming Manager at Asiacell. “We hope to bring Iraqis living abroad closer to their relatives living in Iraq,” Mr. Goran added.

About Asiacell
Asiacell, the first mobile telecommunications company in Iraq, was established in the city of Sulaimaniya in 1999 by the well-known entrepreneur Mr. Faruk Mustafa Rasool. It is today the only national Iraqi telecom network to provide coverage for all of the country’s provinces in the north and the south and is the largest private Iraqi company, serving over 8 million subscribers and connecting the Iraqi nation together.

About TransferTo

TransferTo, is a global airtime remittance hub that interconnects mobile operators’ prepaid systems. TransferTo enables small value transfers through mobile phone. With this solution, migrants can send mobile credit from their mobile phones or through retailers, banks or money transfer companies to their friends and relatives back home. It is a fast, reliable and convenient solution for international mobile top-ups, the ideal low cost, high value complement to cash remittances. With over 100 migration corridors in 5 continents fully covered, TransferTo is the leader in international airtime remittances.

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

New WiMAX network to launch in Iraq

On 11.10.10, In Mobile, By Editor

A new WiMAX network is being launched in Iraq by the operator Fanoos Telecom. The billing provider Aptilo Networks is providing the complete backend of the network, including prepaid billing capabilities, using its WiMAX CSN System.

Fanoos will begin deployment of WiMAX network in Sulaimaniyah, Mosul and Kirkuk, using the existing tower infrastructure from AsiaCell.  Rollout is expected to be complete by the end of the year.  The network will address both the residential and enterprise markets and address a market with a population of more than 10 million. Aptilo will enable a multitude of different business models including payment via premium SMS and vouchers.

Additionally, the WiMAX CSN System will serve as a foundation to enable a future Wi-Fi hotspot network, providing a cost-effective means to connect Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Iraq with WiMAX infrastructure as backhaul and opening up new market opportunities for Fanoos.  Aptilo’s solution also enables full interoperability between the various WiMAX vendors and products involved in the Fanoos deployment, to improve scalability and streamline costs.

Aptilo’s WiMAX solution allows us to rollout the network very quickly, and positions us well for future network expansion, including into a secondary business model of offering Wi-Fi hotspots,” said Hiwa Rauf, CEO, Fanoos Telecom.  The technology is ideal for this large-scale, growing network, which we hope to build into the largest in Iraq.”

The CSN System is the first pre-integrated, ready to deploy wireless broadband data and voice services solution for mobile WiMAX AAA and service control.  Unique multi-access, multi-service support allows for management of bundled data and multimedia services over WiMAX and Wi-Fi networks within the same platform.

Fanoos Telecom is paving the way for advanced communications in Iraq,” said Jan Sjonell, Managing Director, Asia/Middle East, Aptilo Networks. With a quarter million voice subscribers, Fanoos can tap into this established market leadership to deliver advanced 4G mobile broadband to help bring this next level of connectivity to residents and businesses, which will also spark new economic growth.”

Filed under:Mobile  Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response
Go To Top »