www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Banglalink, the Bangladeshi mobile operator, owned by Orascom Telecom, has posted a rise in revenues of 29% year-on-year in H1′09 to DT11.83 billion (USD175 million), as its subscriber base grew by 17% to 11.04 million at the end of June, up from 9.45 million at mid-2008. The operator’s market share also increased to 23.7% at mid-2009. The Bangladeshi operator’s ARPU also hiked by 18% to BDT182 by the end of June, compared to BDT154 a year earlier.
On 08.29.09, In Mobile, By Editor
On 08.29.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Alfa, the mobile operator managed by Orascom Telecom, will be organizing its second public auction on 25 new platinum mobile numbers on Thursday 3rd of September, 2009. The auction will be held under the high patronage of Telecommunications’ Minister, Engineer Gebran Bassil, and upon his request, and will take place in “Dubai Hall” at the Metropolitan Hotel, at 9 pm.
To participate in the auction, one has to visit Alfa’s headquarters at Furn El Chebbak, Beirut in order to submit the 100 USD registration fees (VAT included) starting the 27th of August 2009, up until the 3rd of September 2009, from 8 am until 2 pm and on the 3rd of September at Metropolitan Hotel from 8 am until 9 pm just right before the bidding operation starts. (more…)
On 07.31.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Banglalink has named Asher Yaqub Khan as its new Chief Commercial Officer. He will join the office from Spetember’09 and will be replacing Omer Rashid.
“Khan brings with him a long path of 14 years of success in the fields of strategic and commercial expertise, 13 years of which is exclusively from the telecom industry” said the statement. “Under his leadership Banglalink achieved several significant milestones – becoming the number two operator within a very short time and crossing the 10 million subscriber mark in only about 3 years of operations,” said the company in its statement.
On 07.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bangladeshi mobile operator GrameenPhone (GP) said it added 106,000 net new GSM subscribers during the second quarter of 2009, resulting in a slight decline in market share, but still accounting for at least 45% of all users in the country; according to a report, GP had a 45.5% share of subscribers at end-March 2009. GP ended June with a subscriber base of 21.16 million, where as according to the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, smaller rival Banglalink, owned by Egypt’s Orascom, added almost double GP’s number of net new users in 2Q (or 204,000), to take its total to 11.04 million. GP, 62%-owned by Telenor, posted a 10% year-on-year rise in revenues in the three months ended 30 June 2009 to USD236 million, which it attributed to the increase in its customer base, higher average prices (the company has recently removed handset subsidies) and increased interconnectivity revenues due to the introduction an international gateway in the fourth quarter of 2008, which were partly offset by reduced domestic interconnection fees.
CEO Oddvar Hesjedal said, ‘The increasing revenue growth trend I think accurately demonstrates that the management is willing to make the right changes at the right time to bolster the company during the lull in the economy…In light of the current market conditions growth is definitely a positive indicator of the business prospects of GrameenPhone.’ Monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) dropped by 1% year-on-year, attributed to lower usage and reduced interconnection fees.
On 06.09.09, In Mobile, By Editor
Alfa, the Lebanese mobile operator managed since Feb 1, 2009 by Orascom Telecom, leader mobile operator in the MENA region and South Asia, announced that since June 1, 2009, all its subscribers can keep themselves updated with the most current local and international news by getting breaking news headlines on their mobile for free. This service will be provided by Alfa in collaboration with Naharnet and AFP.
The first 90.000 subscribers to sign up to this service will be granted 1st month free of charge by simply replying by a SMS to the number 1018. They will be only charged the cost of the SMS which is 0.09$.
The subscribers will be able to choose their preferred language by texting the letter A for Arabic and E for English.To end their subscription to this service, users can text the letter C or the word “Cancel” to the number 1018. (more…)
On 05.28.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Banglalink, the Bangladeshi mobile operator has posted a subscriber base of 10.836 million at March’09-end, up from 10.337 million in December 2008 and 8.311 million in March 2008. As a result, Banglalink’s market share was 23.9% in Q1, increasing from 23.2% in Q4. Revenues rose to BDT 5.8 billion from BDT 4.8 billion in the year-earlier period, while EBITDA grew to USD 21 million from USD 422,000, driven by solid revenue growth and decrease in subscriber acquisition costs.
The EBITDA margin for Q1 was 25%. In Q1, ARPU fell to BDT 172.5 from BDT 175 in Q4, while MOU increased to 278 from 256.
On 05.15.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Alfa, the mobile operator, announced a new offer on Alfa Active prepaid lines, whereby 60 local free SMS will be granted to every Alfa Active user who has bought a prepaid line from the 1st until the 28th of April, 2009.
Starting the first of May 2009, Alfa will be sending a short message (SMS) informing the winners about the availability of their 60 free local SMS. In addition, the winners will be receiving sequentially other short messages from Alfa informing them about their remaining credit of free local SMS.
About Alfa
Alfa is the brand name of one of the two Lebanese mobile networks owned by the Republic of Lebanon. Alfa is managed by Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) starting February 1, 2009.
About Orascom Telecom
Orascom Telecom is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in high growth markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 453 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of approximately 46% as of September 30th, 2008. Orascom Telecom operates GSM networks in Algeria (“OTA”), Pakistan (“Mobilink”), Egypt (“Mobinil”), Tunisia (“Tunisiana”), Bangladesh (“banglalink”), Zimbabwe (“Telecel Zimbabwe”), and North Korea (“Koryolink”). Through its subsidiary Telecel Globe, OTH also operates in Burundi, the Central African Republic and Namibia. Orascom Telecom had over 79 million subscribers as of September 30th, 2008.
Orascom Telecom is traded on the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange under the symbol (ORTE.CA, ORAT EY), and on the London Stock Exchange its GDR is traded under the symbol.
On 05.15.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bangladesh ended April’09 with a mobile subscriber base of 46.5 million, up from 45.75 million at March’09, reports BTRC. Grameenphone led the market with 21.02 million subscribers up from 21.05 million in March. Banglalink stood at the second position with 10.9 subscribers as compared to 10.83 million subscribers in March. Aktel followed with 8.83 million subscribers at April-end rising from 8.76 million at March-end. Warid Telecom saw a subscriber base of 2.41 million subscribers up from 2.26 million in March, while Citycell increased its subscriber base to 1.92 million from 1.87 million. Teletalk’s subscriber base rose to 1.42 million from 0.98 million subscribers in March.
On 05.12.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Telecel Globe, a subsidiary of Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E., announced today that it has acquired the mobile telecommunications operator Cell One in Namibia.
Namibia is amongst the wealthiest countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a GDP/capita of US$ 5,200 (at PPP). It has a population of approximately 2.1 million and a mobile penetration of close to 50% at the end of 2008. Cell One operates a GSM 900/1800 network and has 198,000 active subscribers and over 20% market share.
The total consideration is approximately US$59 million in cash, of which US$32 million already paid and the balance due in January 2010. The debt assumed as part of this transaction is non-recourse on Telecel Globe. (more…)
On 05.01.09, In Mobile, By Editor
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Alfa, the mobile operator, announced that it is keeping on strengthening its network in all Lebanon by installing 13 new radio Stations since the 23rd of April 2009 in the different regions in addition to the 54 radio stations installed progressively since the first of February 2009 in different locations, in order to enhance the quality of services, improve the network coverage and increase its capacity to support the subscribers’ traffic and growth.
In compliance with this strategy, the company has installed the new stations as follows:
- 3 radio stations in Batroun
- 1 radio station in Fiyadieh (Liwaa Daem)
- 1 radio station in Mazraa (Mar Elias Street)
- 1 radio station in Hay Selom (Beirut Southern Suburb)
- 1 radio station in Dedde (North)
- 1 radio station in Jdita (Zahle)
- 1 radio station in Jieh (South)
- 1 radio station in Aabra (Jezzine)
- 1 radio station in Frydis (Chouf)
- 1 radio station in ABC Dbayeh
- 1 radio station in Naher el Kalb (between Metn & Keserwan)
About Alfa
Alfa is the brand name of one of the two Lebanese mobile networks owned by the Republic of Lebanon.
Alfa is managed by Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) starting February 1, 2009. Alfa capitalizes on its expertise in the telecom field in order to deliver a global and professional solution for the GSM sector in Lebanon. Its main target is to reach one million subscribers by end of 2009.
For more information visit www.alfa.com.lb
About Orascom Telecom
Orascom Telecom is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in high growth markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 453 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of approximately 46% as of September 30th, 2008. Orascom Telecom operates GSM networks in Algeria (“OTA”), Pakistan (“Mobilink”), Egypt (“Mobinil”), Tunisia (“Tunisiana”), Bangladesh (“banglalink”), Zimbabwe (“Telecel Zimbabwe”), and North Korea (“Koryolink”). Through its subsidiary Telecel Globe, OTH also operates in Burundi, the Central African Republic and Namibia. Orascom Telecom had over 79 million subscribers as of September 30th, 2008.
Orascom Telecom is traded on the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange under the symbol, and on the London Stock Exchange its GDR is traded under the symbol. For more information visit: www.orascomtelecom.com