IPneo receives the IMS Industry Award for best IMS client framework (Egypt)
In IMS World Forum 2012, the industry leading IMS event, held from April 24th to 26th in Madrid, Spain, IPneo’s IMS Client Framework has been chosen to receive the IMS Industry Award for the Best IMS client Framework.
IPneo’s IMS client framework is designed to grant a generic and flexible architecture allowing both, seamless integration with new IMS services and easy selection of pluggable IMS services based on the customer and market needs. Being highly modular and scalable, provides a fully customizable framework ready for the development of an unlimited number of IMS applications and services including: PoC, Presence, instant messaging, image share, file share, video share, VoIP, RCS, RCS-e (Joyn), VoLTE and VCC. The framework is also platform independent thanks to the environment adaptation layer which allows the framework to run on a wide range of platforms including Android (both Phones and Tablets), iOS (4.0 and 5.0), Windows Mobile, Symbian, Windows, Linux and Mac.
The framework also has repeatedly proved to be the best-in class through extensive bilateral Interoperability Testing (IOT) done for several years with major IMS network vendors and operators. IPneo is committed to continuously enhancing its IMS Client Framework to keep it always in this leading position.
France Telecom agrees to Mobinil’s buyout terms (France, Egypt)
Mobile operator France Telecom has finalized the agreement terms to buyout shares in Mobinil, an Egypt based telecom company, from its local partner OTMT.
According to reports, the companies said in a statement that the agreement means France Telecom will now launch a tender offer to acquire 100 percent of Mobinil’s capital at a price of $ 33.5 per share, subject to regulatory approval.
The statement added that OTMT is expected to receive aggregate proceeds of $994 million for its direct and indirect ECMS stake tendered.
As per reports, France Telecom would control a 95 percent stake in Mobinil post this agreement. The move comes as an attempt by France Telecom to enhance its presence in emerging markets.
France Telecom may increase stake in Mobinil (Egypt, Europe)
Telecommunications company France Telecom is reportedly discussing plans to increase its stake in Mobinil, a joint venture between France Telecom and Orascom Telecom Media and Technology by purchasing a part of Naguib Sawiris’s holding.
The increased holding will enable France Telecom to enhance its presence in Egypt as well as counter its declining profit margins in its home market.
According to reports, France Telecom currently owns about 71 per cent of Mobinil Telecom Co., the holding company that controls 51 per cent of Mobinil; while Orascom Telecom Media & Technology controls 29 per cent of the holding company as well as a 20 percent stake in Mobinil.
Vodafone Egypt to offer customers personalized mobile services (Egypt)
Telecommunications provider Vodafone Egypt is upgrading its One-NDS platform provided by Nokia Siemens Networks in a bid to offer users personalized mobile services thereby enhancing customer experience. According to company reports, Tony Dolton, Chief Technical Officer, Vodafone Egypt has said that with a fast growing emerging market, characterized by increased uptake of smartphones and tablets, subscribers are looking for more, highly personalized services. He added that staying competitive demands introduction of new features and services at a faster pace. Further, with its simplified architecture and high resilience, Nokia Siemens Networks’ One-NDS platform will enable them to do just that.
As per sources, Sharaf El-Din Mohamed, head of the Vodafone Egypt customer team at Nokia Siemens Networks claims that this implementation will provide the base for a more efficient and flexible management of subscriber data. He added that the project will help the operator to analyze current market segments, while improving subscriber loyalty.
Vodafone to launch ‘Vodafone Guardian’ app (UK)
Mobile phone operator Vodafone has come out with a new parental control service allowing parents to monitor and restrict unwanted content and misuse of the mobile phone by children. According to reports, the new service to be titled ‘Vodafone Guardian’ will enable parents to blacklist certain numbers, transfer unwanted texts to a secured folder as well as set up an approved list for outgoing calls.
Further, sources claim that the new application would also enable parents to restrict internet use as well as manage access to the phone’s camera. With a large number of children owning a smartphone and spending a lot of time surfing the internet, parents have often raised concerns regarding the content being viewed.
The app will reportedly be free of charge and will be made available in a week’s time in the UK along with Egypt, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Further, Vodafone also plans to launch the app in Italy and Spain under the name ‘Smart Tutor’.
Mobinil laying the ground work for expansion (Egypt)
Egypt based Mobinil stated that the telecom company is revamping as well as expanding its networks on the back of $671 million fresh investment. According to Hassan Qabani, Managing Director of Mobinil, the telco is looking to offer additional services while better managing the existing ones.
Mobinil had set out on an employment drive early this week. The telco is looking to employ 100,000 Egyptians for on the job training as well as facilitating the expansion of the network.
Mobinil has roped in five local development organizational partners to take this initiative forward in the Orman charity organization, Ebtisama group, Awtad for free business development, Engaz Masr and the developing organization for the disabled DAESN.
According to Qabani, Mobinil is proud to launch the expansion and that it is critical in two respects; the first one is investing in the economy with manpower while the second is training and rehabilitating workers to compete in the market.
“We have invested over 40 billion EGP since the company started working, 3 billion of that is dedicated to this latest initiative,” said Qabani.
Among the five partners of the telco, two work to train persons with disabilities.
Analysts say the expansion plan will enable Mobinil in creating more jobs and at the same time, create better functioning networks for existing and future customers.
ZTE preparing to head towards the exit door in DRC mobile joint venture
The China based ZTE is a major supplier of telecom gear in Africa; still, the firm is understood to be devising exit plans in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
ZTE is bracing up for the sale of its 51 percent stake in Congo China Telecom. The fourth largest telecom company telco in the DRC is partly owned by the government of DRC with 49 percent stakes in it.
Meanwhile, the DRC government is also mulling sale of its own stake in the telecom operator as part of a broader effort to divest some assets and transform more state-owned companies into private businesses.
ZTE facing operation problems is primarily attributed as the major cause for the company in the process of exiting the DRC mobile market.
Few international telecom operators have already shown interest to make forays into the DRC market, including South Africa’s MTN and France Telecom that see tremendous potential for growth in mobile phones; most of the towns and communities lack proper connectivity in terms of mobile communication.
The population in DRC stands at 70 million, with only 17 percent mobile penetration level.
MTN is looking at widening its geographical presence while France Telecom wants to establish itself in the DRC so as to cushion the impact of lower revenue in Europe, given that the DRC telecom market is by far less mature compared to other markets in African countries.
Meanwhile, France Telecom already operates in a number of African countries including Egypt, Cameroon, Kenya, Ivory Coast and Egypt. Apparently, France Telecom is the favorite to buy ZTE’s stake in China Congo Telecom whilst the company is expected to buy the government stake in the company to own it 100 percent. The combined transaction stands to run to close to $425 million.
Vodafone’s growth hit in the wake of riots in Egypt
Egyptian riots, and Vodafone’s conceivably subsequent mishandling of its operations at the time, had resulted in 80 percent drop in the telco’s growth rate in the country. The company suffered loss of millions in both customers and revenues.
During the January uprising, the Egyptian Vodafone network was suspended as it succumbed to the demands of former president Hosni Mubarak’s regime, and also sent four propaganda messages by text to its customers. The company has eventually, come under heavy criticism. The suspension of the Vodafone network entailed 24 hours cancellation of all voice services, in addition to shutting down data services for five days, all of which meant hindered contact with the outside world at a critical juncture.
In a bid to justify its actions, Vodafone asserted that the move was undertaken in view of the safety of its staff; adding that the Egyptian users understood the circumstances. Apparently, political commentators overseas did not agree. In addition, resentment against Vodafone appears not to have subsided as yet, in view of nasty Twitter remarks by users.
Figures released by Vodafone bear testimony to the telco’s slump in new business. Three months prior to December 31 – before the eruption of the riots – Vodafone witnessed an increase of 3.1 million users to hit a total of 31.3 million, in comparison to 2.4 million net additions in the quarter before that.
Yet, this figure in particular saw a drastic drop and touchdown to 561,000 during the three months when the riots occurred, representing a growth level of slightly more than a sixth of the earlier levels. And, in the quarter to June 30, Vodafone witnessed a recovery of sorts with 1.9 million net additions.
According to Vodafone, the general chaos in this part of the world at the time must have much to do with respect to the decline in its rising net subscriber additions. Apparently, Egypt is a key growth territory for Vodafone, and the slowdown in net additions is likely to put more pressure to examine the company’s contracts with governments in emerging markets.
Although, governments reserve the rights to control mobile networks during emergencies, commentators argue that the response provided by Vodafone did lack the punch.
Vodafone serving 40 percent of Egypt’s mobile users, together with rival operators France Telecom and Etisalat that have 40 percent and 20 percent market share respectively negotiated with Egypt’s then new coalition government, eventually to be forced to suspend services.
Apparently, Vodafone having gone with its legal obligation to stay silent on the subject had done a great deal of damage to the company’s refutation, and then being exacerbated by the leakage of a of a promotional video in which Vodafone Egypt appeared to take credit for overthrowing Mr Mubarak’s regime.
The advertising agency JWT had produced the video, intended for internal use, and not authorized by Vodafone.
France Telecom profits decline; sale of its Swiss network possible
France Telecom posts 1.9% rise in its first-half revenues to $32.6 billion. However, the company’s net profit declined to $2.8 billion from $5.31 billion the preceding year. The decline in profits is largely attributed to setting up of the UK based Everything Everywhere joint venture last April. Discounting the UK based business, the company would have still seen profit decline by somewhat above $862.56 million.
Reasserted EBITDA stood at $11 billion with margin erosion capped at -1.5 percentage points. In addition, -0.6 percentage points of the margin erosion was attributed to the crises in Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire, and the adverse impact of the VAT increase in France which was only partly passed on to the consumers.
The company saw an increase of 7%, in the number of customers. The total number of Group customers stood at 217.3 million as on 30 June, 2011; pushed by a 23% rise in mobile services across Africa and the Middle East.
In anticipation of the review of its European asset portfolio, the company stated that it has started the process for a potential sale of its consumer business in Switzerland. Last year, the company had looked to merge Orange Switzerland with Sunrise, its rival network. However, the proceedings were stalled by the Swiss Competition Commission.
In addition, a review of operations in Africa and the Middle East as well as those for the Enterprise sector is also awaited by the company, expected to be over before the end of this year.
