Omnitele wins frequency management contract in Jordan

­Omnitele has been awarded a contract by the Jordanian telecoms regulator for radio frequency management in Jordan.

As a part of the project, Omnitele will create new regulation for the liberalization of a number of licensed bands in the radio spectrum. This will include a structure for frequency license renewal fees and possible compensation, a re-farming process for some of the bands and procedures for the grant of new spectrum licenses.

According to Fadi Kawar, Chairman of the Board, TRC Jordan, since a need to adopt their frequency management framework to the changes visible in the industry has been recognised, they wanted to involve one of the top telecommunications consultancies in the development process.

Redline Communications Announces Executive Team Changes and Change in Auditors

Redline Communications Group Inc. (“Redline”) (TSX: RDL), a leading provider of specialized broadband wireless systems, today announced the following executive team changes:

  • Eric Melka, formerly Acting CEO has been confirmed as permanent CEO for Redline Communications.  Eric joined the Redline Board of Directors in late 2009 and became Acting CEO in early 2010.  In the months following his initial appointment, Eric undertook a major restructuring of the company that has culminated in the company reporting profitable growth in 2010.
  • Bruce MacInnis, Redline’s CFO, will be leaving the Company. His departure date is anticipated to be April 30th, 2011.  Bruce joined Redline in May 2010 and has been instrumental in guiding the Company through a complex period of financial restatements. The Company wishes to thank him for his extraordinary efforts during a challenging time.
  • Amir Rosenzweig, formerly Acting SVP Sales for Redline, has been appointed as SVP Business Development.  Amir joined the company as an advisor in late 2009, lending his assistance with product strategy, business development and the restructuring of the Company’s sales organization.  He brings a wealth of industry experience, including serving as President of Alvarion Inc.
  • Dennis Stipati joins Redline as VP Sales Americas.  Dennis brings 27 years of experience in the wireless industry across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia.  He has served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Exalt and Director of Sales at Motorola and will be responsible for all sales activities in the Americas for Redline.

The Company also announced the appointment of BDO Canada LLP (“BDO”) as auditors. BDO replaces the Company’s existing independent auditor, KPMG LLP.

“Redline continues to successfully execute its plan to restructure the Company and the Board is extremely pleased to confirm Eric Melka as CEO and to welcome the newest additions to the management team,” said Philippe de Gasp© Beaubien, Redline’s Chairman of the Board. “2010 has been a year of necessary changes and we wish to thank Bruce MacInnis for his service as CFO and KPMG for their assistance as auditors. We look forward to what will be an exciting 2011 for Eric and his team and the entire company.”

About Redline Communications

Redline Communications (www.rdlcom.com) is a leading manufacturer of specialized broadband wireless systems used to cost-effectively deploy distributed applications and services. Since 1999, Redline systems have been used by local and state governments to extend their public safety networks; by oil and gas companies to connect their digital oil fields; by telecom service providers to bring dedicated Internet access to business users, and by the military to rapidly deploy secure networks. Redline’s award-winning broadband radio systems wirelessly enable distributed applications – private networks, video surveillance, business access, backhaul, and data acquisition – without compromising performance. Redline delivers high speed, real-time connectivity – anywhere, anytime. Redline products are marketed and supported locally through a network of certified value-added resellers in the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa.

Lars Nyberg’s President and CEO employment contract extended

­TeliaSonera’s Board of Directors has extended the employment contract for Lars Nyberg, President and CEO, until December 2013.

Lars Nyberg became President and Chief Executive Officer of TeliaSonera in September 2007 and, although he has a right to retire in December 2011 at the age of 60, he will continue in his role until the end of 2013.

According to Anders Narvinger, Chairman of the Board, Lars Nyberg has a strong commercial focus and is an inspiring team builder. TeliaSonera has made great progress during his first three years as CEO and they are very glad that he has agreed to continue for another three years.

Lars Nyberg was born in 1951 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Stockholm. Mr. Nyberg is Chairman of DataCard Corp. and board member of Autoliv Inc. Between 1995 and 2003 he was Chairman and CEO of NCR Corp, where he continued as Chairman until 2005. Previously, Mr. Nyberg held several managerial positions in Philips, and was a member of Philips Group Management Committee. Mr. Nyberg owns 150 000 shares in TeliaSonera.

Comptel selects Nokia Siemens Networks Exec as the new CEO

­BSS/OSS vendor, Comptel has announced that Mr Juhani Hintikka is to work as the President and CEO of the company from the beginning of next year. He is currently working as the global Head of Operations Support Solutions Business Line at Nokia Siemens Networks.

The company’s current President/CEO, Sami Ervi¶ is stepping down from the position with immediate effect, although he remains an employee of the company.

Simo S¤¤skilahti, Senior Vice President, Products and Solutions and Deputy CEO has been appointed Acting President and CEO starting October 26, 2010 until Juhani Hintikka assumes his new position.

According to Olli Riikkala the Chairman of the Board of Comptel, Juhani Hintikka is a seasoned executive with an extensive track record in telecommunications business. He has a deep understanding of telecommunications ranging from wireless technology to services and software. He has wide market experience especially from emerging markets in Asia, Middle East and Latin America. The Global Operations Support Systems market for telecommunications is undergoing significant structural changes and I am convinced that Juhani as the new President and CEO has the exact right competencies to accelerate Comptel’s transformation in this growing market.

Q1 2010 – Zain revenue up 11% & subscribers up 28%.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Zain announces today its consolidated financial results for the quarter ended 31 March, 2010. The results showed healthy growth in several key performance indicators:
Q1, 2010 Key Performance Indicators (in Kuwaiti Dinars)
Total Managed Active Customers
31.4 million up 28% on Q1, 2009
Consolidated Revenues
KWD 329.7 million  (US$1.146 billion)
EBITDA
KWD 139.2 million  (US$ 483.7 million)
EBIT
KWD 99.4 million    (US$ 345.6 million)
Net Income
KWD 51.5 million    (US$ 179.1 million)
EPS
KWD  0.013              (US$ 0.05)
For the first quarter of 2010, the Zain Group recorded consolidated revenues of KWD 329.7 million (US$ 1.146 billion), an increase of 11% compared to same period in Q1-2009. The Company’s consolidated EBITDA reached KWD 139.2 million (US$ 483.7 million), EBIT of KWD 99.4 million (US$345.6 million) and net income reaching KWD 51.55 (US$ 179.1 million).The earnings per share reached 13 fils (US$0.05).
Commenting on the results, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zain, Mr Asaad Al Banwan said: These results reflecting the Middle East operations are in line with adopted International Accounting Standards, which necessitates excluding all of Zain Africa’s 15 mobile operations, except for net profit, as the company entered into a definitive sale agreement with Bharti Airtel on March 30, 2010.”

Mr Al Banwan added, Despite the economic crisis and the competitive markets in which we operate, we are extremely pleased with the 11% revenue increase which is in line with our expectations.”

He further stated, The organic growth of the EBITDA and Net Income results is all the more impressive when one takes into account that in the same period last year (Q1-2009) we had several reversals of provisions including a favorable ruling resulting in an extraordinary gain of KWD33 million (US$116 million). This is an indication that EBITDA and Net Income growth in Q1, 2010 would have been much higher than stated, as without such provision reversals, the company would have had a respective growth of 14% in EBITDA and 24% in Net Income.”

Mr Al Banwan also revealed that the quarter witnessed an increase in total shareholders’ equity of approximately 10 percent, reaching US$ 8.72 billion, compared with US$ 7.95 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2009.
Also commenting on the results, Zain Group CEO Mr Nabeel Bin Salamah said: “With the sale of the Zain Africa assets about to be concluded, the company will reengineer itself while at the same time focusing its resources on further increasing market leadership in the Middle East, offering customers the latest technologies and quality mobile services.”

Mr Bin Salamah further added, These healthy results are a sign of better things yet to come as we diligently strive to maximise shareholders’ value in this new era. We will consider all options before us with extreme flexibility.”
In recent years, Zain has invested heavily in network expansion in the region especially in vast countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan as well as technology upgrades in Bahrain and Kuwait, all resulting in robust customer acquisition and healthy revenues, a strategy that Bin Salamah was keen to emphasize. We expect to reap further financial rewards of these strategic and capital intensive investments in the years ahead,”he said.