Moov resume service in Togolese after suspension
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: After remaining suspended since last August for non-payment of license fees, Togolese mobile network operator, Moov has again resumed services. The company entered the market after an agreement signed with Telecommunications Regulation Authority (ARPT) to pay license renewal fees of CFA 25.75 billion (US$48 million) over a twelve year period.
The closure of the network made 600,000 people to lose their mobile phone service. It also made many subscribers to move over to the state-owned operator, Togocel.
During the shutdown, protestors came on the street shouting slogans and carrying placards, which read “MOOV Forever And Ever” and “Prez. Faure Get Our Phone Connections Back”.
Togo suspends Atlantic Telecom’s licence
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: After weeks of negotiations by the regulation Agency of Post and Telecommunications Company (ARTP) over the licence terms, the government of Togo has suspended Moov Togo, Atlantic Telecom’s network. Moov, part of Etisalat’s Atlantique Telecom subsidiary, was asked by the regulator to pay CFA20 billion (USD44 million) to renew its licence, which expired in June 2008.
However discussions between the pair failed to reach agreement by the deadline of 10 August 2009, leading to the suspension of network.
Atlantic Telecom faces suspension as it fails to renew licence (Togo)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Atlantic Telecom, the private mobile operator in Togo, is facing suspension issue as it failed to renew its licence. According to Mr. Palouki Massina, Chief Executive Officer of the regulation agency of Post and Telecommunications Company (ARTP), Atlantic Telecom must pay 20 billion CFA by noon on August 10 to renew its licence which expired in June 2008 or face suspension.
The operator has not complied with two decrees spelling out the financial conditions of renewal of its licence.
According to ARTP, Togo Telecom and Togo Cellular are the only operators that have started carrying out measures in the decrees.
Atlantique Telecom picks AIRCOM for EDGE planning in West Africa
AIRCOM International, the leading independent network planning and optimisation consultancy, today announced that it has signed a deal to provide its suite of market-leading network planning tools to Atlantique Telecom, the West African subsidiary of UAE-based telecoms group Etisalat International which operates networks in six countries across West Africa.
Atlantique Telecom operates EDGE mobile networks under the Moov†brand in the Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, the Central African Republic, Gabon and Niger. Under the terms of the agreement, Atlantique Telecom will purchase AIRCOM’s suite of planning tools including its market-leading software products ASSET, ILSA and CONNECT to improve the performance of individual networks by optimising each one’s RF and transmission plans. This will deliver better coverage levels and improved capacity across each network, delivering an enhanced quality of service to Moov customers. (more…)
Etisalat and RIM launch the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 Smartphones in UAE
Etisalat and Research In Motion (RIM) announced the launch of the new BlackBerry® Curveâ„¢ 8900 and BlackBerry® Pearl Flipâ„¢ 8220 smartphones in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone delivers a sleek twist on a classic style and is the thinnest BlackBerry smartphone on the market. In addition providing exceptional communications and multimedia features, this model includes built-in Wi-Fi® and GPS, a faster processor (512Mhz) and a dazzling hi-resolution display. The new BlackBerry Curve 8900 enables users to remain productive, entertained and connected to friends, family and the office wherever they go.
In addition, its advanced multimedia capabilities include a 3.2-megapixel camera with image stabilization, digital zoom, flash and the ability to record video. It comes with a rich media player, 3.5mm stereo headset jack, headset and a hot-swappable microSD/SDHC memory card slot. A 256MB card is included and it supports memory cards of up to 16GB, enabling customers to carry, capture and enjoy more of their music, pictures and video on the go.
On the flipside, the BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone maintains the popular features and benefits of the BlackBerry® Pearlâ„¢ series smartphones, plus it packs numerous enhancements into its sleek flip design. The spacious SureType® keyboard allows easy typing and dialing while the flip design opens to a large, vibrant internal display and provides the satisfying finality of ending a call by closing the phone. Customers will also appreciate the external display for previewing calendar reminders, email, text messages and phone calls at a glance.
The BlackBerry Pearl Flip smartphone also boasts an advanced multimedia experience including a 2 megapixel camera with digital zoom, flash and video recording*, stereo Bluetooth® support and an easily accessible expandable memory card slot for up to 16GB of additional storage per card.
Abdulla Hashim, VP of Business Solutions at Etisalat said, “The launch of these new smartphones offers an even wider choice to our customers with an unbeatable combination of great design and exceptional features.”
Khaled Kefel, General Manager of RIM in the Middle East added, “The BlackBerry Curve 8900 and the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8220 both harness the power of the industry leading BlackBerry platform to give users everything they need to stay connected, productive and entertained. RIM is delighted to work with Etisalat in the UAE to launch these two impressive smartphones.”
Both models are now available in all Etisalat retail outlets and business centres in the UAE, offering customers the convenience of instalment plans on a one- or two-year contract.
About Etisalat
Emirates Telecommunications Corporation has been the telecommunications service provider in the United Arab Emirates since 1976. Since then, it has built up state-of-the-art telecom infrastructure and taken a leadership position of innovation and reliability among regional and international operators.
Etisalat is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world and the largest operator in the Arab world headquartered in the UAE (as per FT500 March 31, 2008).
Etisalat operates in 18 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, servicing over 74m customers. It also has Points of Presence (PoP) in New York, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Singapore providing a truly global reach.
In addition to being the UAE’s telecom provider, Etisalat has now expanded to manage and operate telecom companies in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Pakistan, Tanzania, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger, Togo, Republic of Central Africa, Ivory Coast, Nigeria , Indonesia and Afghanistan. With shares in Sudan’s ‘Sudatel’, Inida, Qatar’s Q-Tel and Thuraya, the satellite telephone service provider, Etisalat is a key regional player that lends its expertise and resources towards the betterment of information and communication technology.
For more information, please visit www.etisalat.ae
About Research In Motion (RIM):
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheldâ„¢ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.rim.com or www.BlackBerry.com
France Telecom commences talks with Togo for a mobile licence
France Telecom begins negotiations with the government of Togo to recieve a mobile operator licence under the brand name Orange. Faure Gnassingbe, president of the Togolese Republic, and Didier Lombard, France Telecom CEO sign an agreement to start off with the exclusive negotiations.
Togo seems like a great growth potential, with a population of 6 million and mobile penetration of 25%, to France Telecom, as it move towards its strategic development in the West African region.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
RIM & T-Mobile announce first ever flip phone BlackBerry Pearl 8220 (USA)
BlackBerry launches it’s very first flip phone. Research In Motion announces BlackBerry Pearl 8220 available with T-Mobile, for which specific date or price hasn’t been announced.
This phone’s fits better for T-Mobile rather than AT&T, as the phone is enabled with EDGE and Wi-Fi on a slightly older, and thus less expensive, platform than the 3G BlackBerry Bold. T-Mobile pushes Wi-Fi calling, hasn’t fully rolled out 3G, and likes less-expensive phones than AT&T does.
Key Features:
- 128-by-160 external screen – with caller ID, an analog or digital clock and message notifications
- High-resolution 320-by-240 screen
- Runs BlackBerry OS, 4.6 on 312 Mhz Marvell Bulverde chipset
- Create Microsoft Office documents with Dataviz’ DocumentsToGo software
- Upgraded BlackBerry server and supports HTML e-mail
- Wi-Fi, no GPS, Bluetooth and Micro -SD card slot
- Music and video players
- Standard 3.5-mm headphone jack
- Available in red and black colour
Zain still has eyes on foreign expansion (Kuwait)
Kuwait-based operator secures $4.53 billion capital hike green light for overseas investments.
Zain this week said it has been given government approval for a $4.53 billion capital increase in order to fund its foreign expansion plans, reported the Middle East North Africa Financial Network.
Under the terms of the Kuwaiti mobile operator’s inception decree, it requires the government to OK any capital hikes.
Zain, formerly known as Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), has repeatedly stated its desire for inorganic growth, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.
“We are looking at expanding in Africa and in the next six to 12 months we will definitely take on three African operations,” said Zain Africa CEO Chris Gabriel, in recent press reports.
He also said that the company is exploring the potential of becoming South Africa’s fourth mobile provider, a licence for which is set to be made available by the government in 2009.
In the Middle East, Zain bought 100% of Iraqi operator Iraqna Telecom from Egypt’s Orascom at the end of 2007 for $1.2 billion.
Also last year, the operator successfully led a consortium that bid $6.1 billion for Saudi Arabia’s third mobile licence. Reports in mid-June said that Zain was gearing up to launch trial network operations that will run until September.
Recent reports have also linked the telco to a possible merger with India’s Bharti Airtel, a claim dismissed by both companies on Thursday, although Zain has confirmed it is studying growth opportunities in the country.
In fact, as Total Telecom Magazine featured in March, Zain has made 20 acquisitions totalling $15 billion in the Middle East and Africa since April 2003. And it isn’t the only operator in the region aggressively extending its reach.
Qatar Telecom (QTel) this week filed a tender offer for all the outstanding shares of Indosat, having paid $1.8 billion for a 40.8% stake in the Indonesian mobile operator in June.
U.A.E.-based operator Etisalat in May raised its stake in West African player Atlantic Telecom to 82%. Atlantic owns majority stakes in telcos in the Ivory Coast, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon and Togo, amongst others.
In the same month the company said it was exploring the possibility of launching a bid for South Africa’s MTN, which is currently in the midst of what has become a complex series of negotiations with India’s Reliance Communications.
What’s more Etisalat this week signed an MoU with France Telecom to collaborate on home services and content, as well as an agreement to put in place preferred international roaming within each other’s footprint.
Meanwhile, the French incumbent is also on the expansion trail, revealing that it has not ruled out the possibility of partnering with Algeria’s Djezzy, owned by Orascom, as a means of entering the north-east African country.
Nationwide Moov
Cote d’Ivoire cellular operator Moov has launched the country’s first national mobile network after teaming up with satellite phone operator Thuraya. The Moovsatellite service will offer mobile coverage in areas which are not currently served by Moov’s own GSM network. Moov, a subsidiary of Etisalat’s African division Atlantique Telecom, is the third largest of Cote d’Ivoire’s three cellular operators, claiming around 28% of the country’s 7.4 million mobile subscribers at the end of March 2008. Besides Cote d’Ivoire Atlantique Telecom has operations in Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger and Togo.
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