MTC

Qatar telecom plans increased investment in Iraq, Algeria

On 02.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to potential for expansion in the Iraqi and Algerian telecoms markets, Qatar telecom is contemplating increased investments in the two countries.

According to the CEO of Qatar Telecom (Qtel), Nasser Marafih, the global financial crisis had some positive impact on Qtel’s businesses in the sense that the lowering of license fees worldwide to a ‘more realistic’ level meant it was cheaper to expand into new markets. He also feels that the lower prices will create further opportunities for Qtel’s acquisitions in the future.

36.2% of mobile operator Wataniya Telecom Algeria (Nedjma) is controlled by Qtel via 71% stake held by Kuwaiti-based Wataniya Telecom (NMTC). 14 communication companies in 17 countries are currently controlled by Qtel. However, all the plans to expand the business in the African market are abandoned by the company due to tough competition.

MTN intends to finalise merger talks as soon as possible

On 08.31.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTN, the South African mobile operator intends to finalise the merger talks with Indian giant Bharti Airtel as soon as possible, a media report suggests. MTN Chief Executive Officer Phutuma Nhleko reportedly said that they wanted to finalise the talks with Bharti Airtel as quickly as possible in order to remove shareholder uncertainty.
According to Nhleko, the aim of the two operators is to benefit from “economies of scale” that might come from the merger. MTN, the South African mobile operator intends to finalise the merger talks with Indian giant Bharti Airtel as soon as possible, a media report suggests. MTN Chief Executive Officer Phutuma Nhleko reportedly said that they wanted to finalise the talks with Bharti Airtel as quickly as possible in order to remove shareholder uncertainty.
According to Nhleko, the aim of the two operators is to benefit from “economies of scale” that might come from the merger.

Tagged with: Alcatel-Lucent • Ho Duc Thang • Hutchison Telecom • India • MTC • South Africa

Bharti Airtel secures $5Bn funding for the merger with MTN (India)

On 08.28.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bharti Airtel, the Indian mobile operator, has reportedly secured $5 billion in funding from a consortium of international and local banks, taking it closer to a merger with MTN South Africa. The media reports suggest that deal could be inked by early September.
Bharti has lined a $1.5bn Indian rupee equivalent and a $3.5 billion portion that will be used to help fund the purchase of shares.

Tagged with: Alcatel-Lucent • Hutchison Telecom • India • Live Messenger • MTC • Samsung A797 • South Africa

MTN post a 30.6% rise in H1′09 profits

On 08.28.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTN, the South African mobile operator, has reportedly announced a hike of 30.6% year-on-year in its H1′09 net profits to ZAR9.09 billion (USD1.16 billion). Revenues for the six months ended 30 June totalled ZAR57.27 billion, up 24% from ZAR46.13 billion a year earlier. EBITDA for the operator was up 25% year-on-year, to reach ZAR24.5 billion at June 2009 – end. Operating expenses for the period grew to ZAR8.06 billion, up from ZAR5.89 billion a year earlier. The operator added 29.2 million new subscribers in last twelve months ending June with 103.2 million mobile subscribers.

Tagged with: ASIA • Charges • Contract Subscribers • MTC • Pakistana • South Africa • Wireless network

Bharti & MTN further extend talks until 30 September

On 08.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The negotiations between the Indian biggie Bharti Airtel and South African giant MTN are likely to continue further as both operators extend the deadline to 30 September. Despite the fresh delay, Sunil Mittal, the Bharti Group’s chairman and managing director, has said that he remains positive that a deal can be reached, while also refuting claims that Bharti was under pressure to sweeten the deal. Commenting on the development Mittal noted: ‘We are not really looking at sweetening the deal… There are no contentious issues over the deal structure. During discussions, there will be adjustments to what was announced earlier, but that is not the area of focus. We are looking at administrative issues, the process of seeking permissions and working towards a scheme of arrangement acceptable to all.”

Tagged with: Alcatel-Lucent • Easton • Hutchison Telecom • India • Intesa Sanpaolo Bank • LG KV920 • MTC • South Africa

Airtel not looking to sweeten MTN deal, says Mittal (India)

On 08.22.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bharti Airtel Ltd. is not looking to sweeten its deal to take control of South African telecom company MTN Group Ltd., Bharti Chairman Sunil Mittal’s reportedly said.
“We are not looking at sweetening the deal. There are no contentious issues over the deal structure. During discussions, there will be adjustments to what was announced earlier, but that is not the area of focus,” he said.
The merger has been extended for the second time to 30th Sept.
“We are looking at administrative issues, the process of seeking permissions and working towards a scheme of arrangement that is acceptable to all,” Mittal added.

Tagged with: Hutchison Telecom • India • MTC • MyWorld • South Africa

MTN South Africa in talks for a loan up to USD 4.5Bn

On 08.17.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTN South Africa is in conversation for a USD 4.5 billion syndicated loan to back the proposed merger with Indian mobile operator, Bharti Airtel, source revealed. According to the firms, working on a complex USD 23 billion cash and share swap for over two months, the exclusive talks would be extended until late August and that the terms of the potential deal may be adjusted. As per the earlier media reports, MTN was likely in talks for a loan worth up to USD 3.5 billion. As per the terms, MTN and its shareholders would take a 36% interest in Bharti and the Indian firm would end up with 49% of MTN.

Tagged with: CandidSoft • Guangzhou New Postcom • Hutchison Telecom • India • MTC • South Africa

MTN Congo partners with Sicap to Launch Pay4Me

On 08.16.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTN Congoand Sicap have today released details of the recent launch of a popular new service, marketed under the Sicap product name of Pay4Me.
The Sicap solutionallows MTN subscribersto bear the cost of a call from loved ones who are momentarily out of credit. Essentially a collect call service, Pay4Me opens up the opportunity for all MTN subscribers to call other MTN numbers, even when out of credit. The subscriber simply dials a short code before their correspondent’s number in order to send a collect callrequest. The correspondent receives notification and presses 1 to accept the charges. (more…)

Tagged with: audio files • Broadband Communications • Charges • MTC • pictures • Purple Labs

MTN launches Voice SMS service in Uganda

On 08.13.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTN, one of the leading mobile carriers in Uganda, has launched Voice SMS service across the country, based on pioneering Voice SMS technology from Kirusa, the world’s leading vendor of Voice SMS and a leading developer of mobile value added services. MTN Voice SMS offering in Uganda is bolstered by additional innovative features like Scheduling and Dynamic Group Voice SMS.

Voice SMS allows the subscribers to send messages by voice, eliminating the need to type. It enables the subscribers to communicate faster, easier, and with added personal touch by conveying emotions, to their friends, relatives and colleagues. The Voice SMS service has achieved a vast acceptance across the globe for its benefits in surpassing the limitations of text messages.

MTN subscribers need to dial ‘*’ followed by the number of the person they wish to send the message to, and speak a short message for up to 30 seconds in any language. A recipient on MTN network gets a notification message from the sender and can click on a DirectListen(TM) number for direct access and reply to the Voice SMS left for him. He can also dial *0* to hear new voice messages, or retrieve previously listened voice messages by dialing *1*. Voice SMS messages can be replied to, forwarded, saved, or deleted. (more…)

Tagged with: Land Mobile Radio • MTC • Net Additions • Telstra Corporation Australia • Uganda

Bharti Airtel approaches SBI for loans (India)

On 08.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bharti Airtel, India’s leading mobile operator in terms of subscribers, has approached the State Bank of India for separate loans of $1 billion and INR50 billion.
Bharti Airtel, as reported earlier, has planned to raise funds for a possible merger with MTN South Africa.
The state-run bank doesn’t need to seek approval from the country’s capital market regulator – the Securities and Exchange Board of India – for giving this loan, the Jr. Finance Minister, Namo Narain Meena said.

“Any regulatory or other clearance is required to be obtained by the borrowers themselves,” Meena added.

Tagged with: America Movil SAB • Confrencing • Free Airtime • Hutchison Telecom • India • MTC • Multimedia Messaging • Orange 02 • South Africa