Hutchison Essar

Vodafone gives final submission in Indian $2 billion tax demand

On 03.15.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The final part of the submission expressing why Vodafone should not be held liable for a US$2 billion tax demand following its takeover of India’s Hutchison Essar in 2007 has been submitted by the company. A demand had been asked by the Indian government on the US$11.2 billion deal.

It was being argued that under Indian law, it is the buyer who pays transaction taxes, not the seller and that the jurisdiction that the transaction took place is irrelevant when relating to assets largely held in India.

Reply with 23 annexure had been given by Vodafone on January 29, 2010. The final reply was made on March 12, 2010 with a 24th annexure. According to a company’s spokesperson, Vodafone is confident that no tax is payable on this transaction and all of the taxation and legal advice the company has received remains consistent with this view.

The entire share capital of CGP Investments (Holdings) Ltd, a Cayman Islands based company from Hutchison International (HTIL) was acquired by Vodafone International Holdings BV, a company registered in the Netherlands. CGP, itself, owns 52 per cent stakes in Hutchison India.

Vodafone given time till March 12 to reply to Indian tax dept

On 02.18.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Vodafone Group Plc has been given time until March 12 to respond to the second attempt of the Indian tax department to examine if its acquisition of Hutchison Essar Ltd falls within the tax jurisdiction of Indian authorities.

The dispute arose after $11.2 billion (Rs51,500 crore) was paid by Vodafone for a 67% stake in Hutchison Essar (since renamed Vodafone Essar Ltd) in 2007 and the deal was approved by the government in May the same year.
According to the tax department, the Cayman Islands transaction was essentially a transfer of an Indian asset and Vodafone should have deducted tax at source when it paid Hutchison.

Consequently, in 2007 itself a show- cause notice was slapped on the company by the tax department asking why it had not done this and it was after this that the company approached the courts.

Tagged with: Acquisition • ASIA • Cayman Island • Essar • Hutchison • Hutchison Essar • India • Vodafone

Alfa organises public auction for 25 new platinum mobile numbers (Lebanon)

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…)

Tagged with: Avantel • Axtel • Bangladesh • Brasil • Casual game • Chris Gabriel • Egypt • France Telecom • Hutchison Essar • Kariuki Ngari • Minick • NGN • Pakistan • Slovenia • Sridhar Srinivasan • Unicom • VDSL

Koryolink ends Q2′09 with 47,863 subscribers (North Korea)

On 08.27.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Orascom Telecom has reported that its mobile subscribers in North Korea nearly doubled in Q2′09 even though the ARPU dipped. Koryolink, in which Orascom owns a majority stake, ended June with 47,863 subscribers, twice more than what the operator had at April-end, when the total stood at 19,208, said Orascom.
Koryolink runs on a 3G WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) technology and is the only operator in the country open to individual subscribers.
During Q2′09, the operator posted an ARPU of US$22.80, down from $24.70 in Q1′09. While EBITDA stood at $2.5 million.

Tagged with: ASIA • Charges • GSM • HSDPA • Hutchison Essar • Mauritania • Minick • MMTP

Alfa offers free breaking news service via SMS (Lebanon)

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…)

Tagged with: Avantel • Axtel • Bangladesh • Brasil • BTK • Construction Plans • Eco-Friendly Tower • Egypt • France Telecom • Future Fund • Hutchison Essar • Minick • MMTP • Network Cost • NGN • Pakistan • Slovenia • VDSL

Koryolink posts a subscriber base of 19,208 in Q1′09 (North Korea)

On 05.28.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Koryolink, the Korean 3G mobile operator has posted a subscriber base of 19,208 at the end of Q1′09. The operator had launched its services on 15 December 2008. Koryolink earned revenues of USD 4.4 million and EBITDA of USD 0.3 million in Q1. ARPU reached USD 24.7, and minutes of use were at an average 146/subscriber.
Koryolink has installed its 3G network to initially cover the capital Pyongyang, which has a population of more than 2 million. The operator plans to extend the network to cover the entire country.

Tagged with: ASIA • Free Airtime • Geo Solutions • Hutchison Essar • Mauritania • MMTP • NSS-7 Satellite • Pakistana • SES AMERICOM

Orascom focuses on cost cutting in 2009 (Egypt)

On 05.19.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Orascom Telecom, the Middle Eastern mobile operator, plans to concentrate on cost cutting and investment in 2009 in new networks in Africa, Canada and North Korea, CFO Aldo Mareuse reportedly said. He said competition with bullish government-backed operators from the Gulf had pushed Orascom to be more alert and disciplined.
The operator has been largely not represented itself in the multibillion-dollar acquisition spree of regional operators in recent years, focusing instead on building up operations in Algeria, Egypt, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Mareuse said the high prices paid for licences in recent years reflect the partially sovereign nature of the Gulf’s biggest telecoms players such as Etisalat and Saudi Telecom. Following a more disciplined financial approach the operator has already cut its capital expenditure in Pakistan and Bangladesh, where drop in currencies and social instability have hit profitability. It aims to cut overall operational spending across the group by 10% in 2009.

Tagged with: Africa • Bangladesh • Canada • Egypt • Enforta • Free Airtime • Hutchison Essar • iPods • Minick • Nokia Siemens Networks and Ericsson are in talks with R • Okinawa Cellular • Optical Network • Pakistan • TD-SCDMA phones • Unicom

Alfa offers 60 free SMS to Alfa Active subscribers (Lebanon)

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.

Tagged with: Chinguitel • Avantel • Axtel • Bangladesh • Brasil • Casual game • CDMA • Celcom • CFE • Egypt • Egyptian Regulator • Fibre-Optic Network • France Telecom • Free SMS • Future Fund • Hutchison Essar • Minick • MMTP • Mobile Termination Rates • Myanmar • NATCOM • NGN • Pakistan • Slovenia • Subscibers • Unicom • VDSL • Xfera

Telcel Globe acquires Cell One Namibia

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…)

Tagged with: Africa • Axtel • Bangladesh • Business Market • Casual game • CDMA • Charges • Construction Plans • France Telecom • Hutchison Essar • Information • Middle East • Minick • MMTP • MWC • Pakistan • Quipment • South Asia • Unicom • Xfera

Alfa installs 13 new radio stations

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

Tagged with: Avantel • Axtel • Bangladesh • Brasil • Casual game • CDMA • Celcom • Construction Plans • Egypt • France Telecom • Future Fund • Hutchison Essar • Minick • MMTP • Mobile Termination Rates • NGN • Pakistan • RIM BlackBerry Pearl • Slovenia • Unicom • VDSL • Xfera