By Editor on March 22, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Zain Kuwait has introduced Hybird service for corporate customers which will help in controlling staff invoices and will provide them total control of expenses on postpaid lines with prepaid flexibility.
Hybrid distinguishes between business calls and private calls, allowing the corporate customer to set monthly limits on lines that are automatically turned into a prepaid service when these limits are exceeded. The subscription will automatically return to postpaid status in the beginning of the new month.
By Editor on March 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Middle East’s biggest phone company, Emirates Telecommunications Corp. has ended its talks to acquire a majority stake in Zain, Kuwait’s largest, citing political unrest and disagreement among shareholders.
According to the company, the current political unrest in the region and non- unanimous agreement among Zain shareholders mean the offer is no longer viable.
Etisalat first announced its bid to acquire 46% of Zain in September. The collapse of the deal comes after two months of unrest across the Middle East and North Africa that has toppled Egyptian and Tunisian presidents, created civil war in Libya and prompted deadly clashes in Yemen and Bahrain, countries bordering Saudi Arabia.
Etisalat’s offer was contingent on the sale of Zain’s 25% stake in Zain Saudi Arabia. Offers from Bahrain Telecommunications Co., known as Batelco, and Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom Holding Co. were rejected by Zain last month.
The company already operates in 18 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. It has over 100 million customers.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Africa, Bahrain, Egypt, Emirates Telecommunications Corp., Etisalat, Kuwait, Libya, Middle East, operators, political unrest, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Zain
By Editor on March 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Viva, Kuwait Telecom Co. has signed a cooperation agreement with Kuwait TeleCard. The agreement was signed by Salman Al-Badran Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Viva and Lina Al-Harbi, CEO of Kuwait TeleCard.
According to Al-Badran, this partnership will enhance the spread of the Viva through wings affiliated to Kuwait TeleCard at cooperative societies which will make it easier to the company to sell its services and products allowing it to be closer to its customers. As a result, customers can finish their transactions and pay their bills easily.
He added, Viva always seeks to cooperate and coordinate with leading Kuwaiti companies and institutions to leverage their expertise to support Viva’s expansion Strategy and to spread more broadly to reach all segments of the Kuwaiti society.
It is valuable to mention that Kuwait Telecard is leading prepaid international calling service provider in Kuwait for more than 12 years.
By Editor on March 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Uzbekistan-based mobile services provider Ucell has added new roaming partners. Ucell has signed a bilateral agreement with Latelz in Cambodia (Smart Mobile) and Telecom New Zealand.
The company will now allow prepaid users to roam on the Viva network in Kuwait, on Qtel’s network in Qatar and on Telekom Deutschland’s network in Germany.
Moreover, Ucell added Telecel in Bolivia as a GPRS and 3G roaming partner.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with 3G, Bolivia, Cambodia, Germany, GPRS, Kuwait, Latelz, New Zealand, operator, Qatar, Qtel, Smart Mobile, Telcel, Telecom New Zealand, Telekom Deutschland, Ucell, Uzbekistan, Viva
By Editor on March 21, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Baraka Telecom – a subsidiary of Kuwait’s Reach Telecom Holding has opened Asia’s first Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) hub in Malaysia. The MVNE handles the network and billing services on behalf of companies that want to create their own MVNO service.
According to Baraka Telecom, it can enable all MVNOs throughout Asia, irrespective of size, to decrease the time to market, and offer substantially more flexible platforms and services to their target segments of each mobile market.
According to Mohammad Al-Sayegh, Chairman and Board member of Baraka Telecom, they are pleased to invest in Malaysia. There is currently a tremendous growth opportunity in the mobile telecommunication sector in Asia. As the mobile market matures in this part of the world, MVNOs, with innovative ideas, with the right brand appeals, will flourish. Mobile consumers today are demanding more than just basic voice and SMS services, and prefer to be part of an affinity group which shares the same interest, content and services. They will help them achieve their desired goal.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with ASIA, Baraka Telecom, Chairman and Board member, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mobile, Mobile Virtual Network Enabler, Mohammad Al-Sayegh, MVNE, MVNO, operator, Reach Telecom Holding, SMS
By Editor on March 16, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Zain Group, the leading network operator in the Middle East, has announced two senior appointments as part of the ongoing restructuring and consolidation process focusing on the growth of its cash generative regional operations. This is pursuant to the sale of its African assets in 2010 and the recent retirement of several executives.
Zain Jordan CEO Dr. Abdul Malek Al Jaber will also take on the additional key role of Zain Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Zain Kuwait CEO, Khalid Al Omar will, also in addition to his current post, take on the duties of Zain Group Chief Technology Officer (CTO), a position he previously held.
“I am pleased to announce the appointments of these two highly capable executives to key positions that will allow them to demonstrate the leadership and managerial skills that have defined their careers to date,” said Zain Group CEO Nabeel Bin Salamah. “I am confident that both will contribute to making Zain the lean and efficient corporate entity we envisage, one that can further enhance its leading positions in the competitive and lucrative telecom markets in which we operate.”
More on Dr. Abdul Malek Al Jaber
In addition to maintaining the CEO role of Zain Jordan, Dr. Abdul Malek Al Jaber brings his record of achievements in the Middle East telecommunications industry to his new role as Zain Group’s Chief Operating Officer. He joined Zain in July 2009 as CEO of Zain Jordan, where, over the last 18 months under his tutelage, the operation witnessed remarkable growth in both revenue and net profit and further enhanced its customer leadership, despite operating in a competitive landscape of 4 operators.
Previous to joining Zain, he was vice chairman and CEO of Palestine’s Paltel Group, from 2003, restructuring the company towards increased profits, sustained innovation and social responsibility in a very competitive and operationally arduous environment. He is a member of the Arab Business Council, the World Economic Forum, The Arab Technology Forum, The Young Presidents Organization and regional board member of the Young Arab Leaders Organization.
2010 was a defining year for Dr. Al Jaber, since he attained recognition from many prestigious spheres. He was recognized as one of the top five influential people in Palestine through a vote of 500,000 people, earning the prestigious Ma’an Certificate. Additionally, he was one of the top three business leaders nominated in the Outstanding Corporate Leader category in the Arab World as part of the Takreem Arab Achievement Awards. In October 2010, he was ranked 62nd in the top 100 most powerful people in the global telecom business by the internationally renowned and London based Global Telecoms Business Magazine. In November 2010, Dr. Al Jaber was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the leading regional telecom magazine, CommsMEA, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the telecommunications sector in the region.
More on Khalid Al Omar
Khalid Al Omar has been one of the stalwarts of the Zain executive management team for many years contributing to the company’s many recent milestone successes. He has been with the company for 25 years, joining Zain in December 1986, rising through the company’s ranks over the years holding various leading positions.
Mr. Al Omar was appointed CEO of Zain Group’s mother company Zain Kuwait in June 2010, earned as a result of his many accomplishments during his outstanding record of service to the company. Between November 2008 and June 2010, he held the key role of Chief Technology Officer of Zain Group overseeing all the Group’s telecommunication networks and technology strategy.
Previous to this appointment as CTO of Zain Group, he was Zain Kuwait’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), where he supervised the functioning of Networks, IT, customer care, sales and marketing departments through effective internal and external communications in a collaborative working environment in line with the company’s policies and procedures. Between the years 2003-2005, Al Omar was additionally (as well as being CTO of Zain in Kuwait) responsible for the implementation and launch of the Atheer project (Iraq), establishing a mobile network in the Southern region and in Baghdad, creating the largest microwave backbone in Iraq.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Africa, CEO, chief operating officer (COO), consolidation process, Dr Abdul Malek Al Jaber, Iraq, Jordan, Khalid Al Omar, Kuwait, Middle East, Mobile, restructuring, Zain, Zain Jordan, Zain Kuwait CEO
By Editor on March 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment
A majority of the Zain board have approved an offer by Kingdom Holding and Bahrain Telecom BTEL.BH (Batelco) for the Kuwait telecom firm’s Saudi assets.
According to sources, the board approved the offer with a vote of five to two. Kingdom and Batelco offered to buy the assets at US$2.67 per share, paying $1.2 billion in total, and agreeing to take over $3.8 billion of debt.
By Editor on March 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment
France Telecom and Kuwaiti logistics group Agility have jointly announced that they are acquiring a 44% stake in Iraqi mobile operator Korek Telecom.
As per the companies, the two groups will form a joint venture, 54%-owned by Agility, to control the stake.
According to the statement, France Telecom will pay $245 million for its 20% indirect stake in Korek, and will also extend a $185 million 4-year loan to the Iraqi operator. Meanwhile, Agility will contribute existing convertible debt and inject an additional $50 million for its 24% indirect stake.
According to France Telecom Chief Executive Stephane Richard, the acquisition of this stake in Korek Telecom is a new step in their policy of expansion outside Europe, and contributes to their stated aim of doubling our revenues in Africa and the Middle East by 2015.
By Editor on March 5, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Co. Zain stated that its 2010 net profit rose as the company added new subscribers and that it plans to double its net profit by 2014.
The subject of a nearly $12 billion takeover offer by U.A.E.’s biggest telecoms company Emirates Telecommunications Corp., Etisalat, said its net profit excluding a capital gain from selling its African assets rose to US$1.02 billion, compared with US$700.80 million a year earlier.
Net profit reached US$3.80 billion, including a capital gain of US$2.76 billion from the sale of Zain Africa assets on June 8, 2010.
According to Zain Group Chief Executive, Nabeel Bin Salamah, the company targets organic growth and more than doubling its net profit by 2014. To realize their business aspirations, they have devised an integrated strategy that will hopefully aid them, through organic growth, to reach 52 million customers, generate 6.3 billion in revenues, and increase earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortization to $3.4 billion– while improving the EBITDA margin to 53%-and more than double their net profit to $2.1 billion by 2014.
Zain stated that 2010 revenue reached US$5.03 billion, 7% increase from the year earlier. Zain added that its mobile customers stood at 37 million at the end of December, an increase of 23% from the same period a year earlier.
Filed under Mobile ·
Tagged with Africa, Chief Executive Nabeel Bin Salamah, EBITDA, Emirates Telecommunications Corp., Etisalat, Kuwait, Mobile, Net Profit, UAE, Zain, Zain Africa
