Wataniya sees profit rise
Kuwaiti telco Wataniya Telecom has posted a net profit of KWD50.1 million (USD172.3 million) for the first nine months of 2006, according to AMEinfo, up 22% from KWD39.2 million in the same period last year. More details will be posted when the company reports its full third-quarter financial results. Wataniya is Kuwait’s second largest cellular operator, with 988,000 subscribers at the end of June. It also has operations in Tunisia, Iraq, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.
Source- http://www.telegeography.com
Wataniya Telecom posts KD 50.1 million net profit as of Q3 2006
Wataniya Telecom announces its Q3 2006 financial results with the Company posting a consolidated net profit of KD 50.1 million (USD 172.3 million) for the first nine months or 111 fils (38 cents) per share, an increase of 22% compared to KD 39.2 million (USD 134.9 million), or 87 fils (25 cents) per share earned in the same period for 2005.
“The company continues to enjoy extremely healthy collective results as ARPU has increased in every one of our operations and as we challenge ourselves to achieve greater performance,??? said Faisal Al-Ayyar, Chairman of Wataniya Telecom. We have exceeded a combined subscriber base of 8.8 million by doubling our customers in Algeria and Iraq, more than quadrupling in the Maldives and growing seven-fold in Saudi Arabia compared to the same quarter in 2005. Our solid reputation and experience in greenfield operations have also won us the bid to build and operate the second mobile telecommunications license in Palestine, a market that we believe has great business potential,??? he added. As we maintain our focus on developing our technological capabilities, we create the perfect environment to excel in our business, exceed the expectations of our investors and business partners, and maintain the strong trust of the financial community,??? he concluded.
Source- http://business.maktoob.com
Wataniya Telecom reinforces Ericsson/Nokia partnerships
KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom, Kuwait Red Carpet Co announced yesterday that its customers will have wider access to its advanced broadband networks through the expansion of the deployment phase, all over Kuwait, of HSDPA functionality empowered by its leading partners, Ericsson and Nokia. This will secure higher speed audio and video streaming and the usage of sophisticated applications over the Wataniya network.
“Our customers are driving the evolution of our networks, demanding more advanced services”, said Harri Koponen, GM & CEO, Wataniya Telecom. “There’s a growing demand for mobile data services in Kuwait, so in order to serve our customers better we decided to expand our existing HSDPA network and extend the Red Carpet services to new areas”.
Under the agreement both Ericsson and Nokia will provide radio equipment and implementation services for the mobile internet (HSDPA) enabling Wataniya to introduce a new generation of mobile broadband services including high speed internet access.
Per Uppstorm, President, Ericsson Kuwait says: “Wataniya makes a very strong statement on the Kuwaiti market at a very exciting time in telecommunications history. HSDPA deployments are taking off around the world, and we are extremely pleased to power Wataniya’s HSDPA network”.
Approximately few months after the first deployment of HSDPA which has provided remarkable speed in audio and video streaming additional to internet access via W-net, the Wataniya internet card, Wataniya follows swiftly with a sizable expansion aiming at providing customers with unique experience of high speed downloads virtually from everywhere in Kuwait.
“Nokia’s simple HSDPA software upgrade enables Wataniya to offer their customers mobile broadband services cost-efficiently. We are committed to supporting Wataniya in introducing new services in Kuwait and providing them with Nokia’s end-to-end expertise ranging from network equipment and services to devices”, said Walid Moneimne, Senior Vice President, Networks, Nokia.
Wataniya customers will start reap up from the expansion of this remarkable solution soon through a rich portfolio of unprecedented services based on seamless speed level.
“Customer satisfaction is priority for us”, said Koponen. “We had made a commitment to deliver the latest technologies needed to deliver latest services. With both Ericsson’s and Nokia solutions in place, we’ll be able to consistently roll out services of the highest calibre to our customers, most suited to their requirements”.
About Wataniya Telecom
Launched in December 1999, Wataniya Telecom is positioned today the leading provider of mobile services in Kuwait and has been a driving force in increasing the mobile communications market penetration to over 90% percent of the population.
With operations in Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Maldives, Wataniya is actively expanding its presence within the region as well in Asia, serving over 6.3 million customers, in countries counted over 92 millions citizens in total.
The Company provides a wide range of leading EDGE wireless voice and data services delivered with high quality and designed to meet customer’s needs and requirements.
Source- http://www.kuwaittimes.net
Sri Lanka Telecom links up with India’s BSNL to offer wider choice
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India’s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Thursday officially kicked off a 1.8 billion rupee undersea cable unit with Sri Lanka Telecom, which will bring down call rates between South Asian countries. |
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The optical fibre cable, which run between Mt Lavinia (Sri Lanka) and Tuticorin in India, will enable SLT customers to enjoy high speed broadband services such as audio and video streaming. “This project, historically, would be the biggest joint investment between India and Sri Lanka,” Sri Lanka Telecom said in a statement. The Bharat Lanka Cable’s bandwidth of 10 gigabits per second, will be scaled up to a maximum of 160 gigabits per second at a later date, giving customers more connectivity options via Sri Lanka. SLT also provides high speed global connectivity to South Asian countries through its investments in international submarine cables such as South East Asia, Middle East, Western Europe (SEA ME WE) 3 cable and the SEA ME WE 4. The country’s biggest fixed line operator with 85 percent market share, SLT is also in the process of laying a submarine link between Sri Lanka and the Maldives through its telco partner Dhirragu. |
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Japan’s Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (NTT) controls 35.2 percent of SLT, the Sri Lankan government owns 49.5 percent and the public 15.3 percent. Source- http://www.lankabusinessonline.com |
Technorati : BSNL, India, Middle East, South East Asia, Sri Lanka
Ice Rocket : BSNL, India, Middle East, South East Asia, Sri Lanka
UAE: Etisalat plans India move
Etisalat is looking to enter the Indian telecommunications market as a prelude to doing business in other Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Maldives and the Philippines, a senior executive said yesterday.
The Abu Dhabi-based com pany is “studying several offers” from Middle East and Asian companies to acquire more mobile licences, Chairman Mohammed Hassan Omran said yesterday.
Although it is currently focusing on speeding up the operation of the third mobile licence in Egypt, which it obtained recently, Etisalat is “making efforts” to enter other markets, Omran told Al Emarat Al Youm.
Etisalat also recently bought a controlling stake in Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation, but lost the bidding for a 30 per cent stake in Tunisie Telecom in Tunisia.
“We are focused on the Egyptian market because it is an important market in the region, and one that is witnessing considerable growth. We will begin services on schedule in February 2007,” Omran said.
Observers say the Egypt licence witnessed strong competition between rivals, but Etisalat beat rivals from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and South Africa as well as Egypt, paying some $2.9 billion (Dh10.6bn) for the licence.
The company was earlier this month ranked sixth among 50 listed Arab companies by Forbes magazine. It took top spot in the UAE and fifth in the GCC, in the Shuaa Capital-Gulf Business report on the biggest GCC companies by market value in 2006.
Etisalat has been going global with a vengeance since it acquired the Mobily licence in Saudi Arabia for $2bn (Dh7.34bn).
In the race to acquire Telsim of Turkey, however, Etisalat’s bid of $2.51 billion (Dh9.2bn) was the lowest. Vodafone of the UK won the deal for $4.55bn (Dh17bn).
Source- http://www.zawya.com
Technorati : Etisalat, India, Maldives, Middle East, Mobile, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, UAE
Ice Rocket : Etisalat, India, Maldives, Middle East, Mobile, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, UAE
Reliance Comm to bid for mobile licences abroad
The Reliance-Dhirubhai Anil Ambani Group, has plans to bid for mobile licences abroad for providing high-end business process outsourcing services, reports Business Standard.
It has lined up a raft of initiatives to give its telecommunications business a global footprint.
Moreover, the company also plans to take Internet protocol television (IPTV) and other media services to consumers in foreign markets after it launches them in
India
.
In order to carry these services, the group will set up three broadband cable networks- one from India to China through Nepal, two, an undersea cable between Asia and the US, and three, an extension of its Falcon cable from the Maldives to East Africa. Industry analysts put a USD 1 billion price tag to these three cable systems.
The group is also eyeing mobile licences in
Kenya
,
Bhutan
and
Morocco
.
Source- http://www.myiris.com
