Tunisiana’s 3G bid declined (Tunisia)
Telecom operator Tunisiana’s bid for the 3G and fixed licence has been declined by Tunisia’s ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Ministry, according to a report by Biztech Africa.
As per the report the Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, Mongi Marzouk, said Tunisiana had offered to purchase the landline license for $ 23.38 million and the 3G license for $ 81.2 million. The Ministry earlier accepted the company’s proposed terms for network quality.
The report reveals that while the Ministry declined to specify what bid it would accept, it pointed out that Orange Tunisia had paid $ 179 million in June 2009 for a similar package with the option of an exclusive 3G licence for one year.
Tunisie Telecom acquired its 3G licence in 2010, for $ 75.3 million. Tunisiana has indicated that it may revise its bid.
Tunisiana wins tender for 3G licence (Tunisia)
Telecom operator Tunisiana has won a for a new telecommunications license enabling it to offer fixed telecommunications (landlines) as well as high-speed 3rd-generation wireless network, as reported by Tunisialive. Previously, only Tunisie Telecom and Orange had licenses for 3G.
Mongi Marzoug, Minister of Communication Technologies, said it is important to boost competition in the telecommunications sector in Tunisia. He recalled the results of a study by the National Institute of Telecommunications, which highlighted the opportunities and positive outcomes related to the licensing of fixed telecommunications and 3G mobile telecommunications services.
He said that the granting of this license will reduce the digital divide, by improving coverage of telecommunication services and access to these services.
Tunisie Telecom CEO resigns (Tunisia)
Tunisie Telecom CEO, Raouf Chkir, has submitted his resignation from his post. Chekir had previously served among others as CEO of the National Broadcasting Corporation.
The resignation comes as the country continues the attempt to put itself back together after protests in January forced out the government and signaled a new era in Tunisia politics.
Tunisie Telecom IPO suspended (Tunisia)
If reports are to be believed, Tunisia has suspended its plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) for state-owned telecoms company Tunisie Telecom. According to Secretary of State for Communication Technologies Sami Zaoui a final decision would be taken in consultation with Tunisia’s strategic partners within days over whether to go ahead with the IPO.
Tunisia’s government holds a 65% stake in Tunisie Telecom, with the rest held jointly by Dubai’s TECOM Investments and Dubai Investment Group. It had planned to list the company on both Tunis and Paris stock exchanges in what would have been the first offering by a Tunisian company on a European bourse.
Tunisia has had two changes of government since former president Zine Al Abdine Ben Ali was driven out by popular revolt on 14 January this year. Many officials have been replaced, leaving plans for the IPO in limbo.
Tunisia suspend plans to launch IPO
The communications minister of Tunisia states that it has suspended plans to launch an initial public offering for state-owned Tunisie Telecom after protests against the planned sale.
According to Secretary of State for Communication Technologies Sami Zaoui, a final decision would be taken in consultation with Tunisia’s strategic partners within days over whether to go ahead with the IPO.
Tunisia’s government holds a 65% stake in Tunisie Telecom, with the rest held jointly by Dubai’s TECOM Investments and Dubai Investment Group. It had planned to list the company on both Tunis and Paris stock exchanges in what would have been the first offering by a Tunisian company on a European bourse.
Tunisia has had two changes of government since former president Zine al-Abdine Ben Ali was driven out by popular revolt on Jan. 14. Many officials have been replaced, leaving plans for the IPO in limbo.
Tunisie Telecom to list in Paris and Tunis (Tunisia)
State-controlled Tunisie Telecom has stated that it had begun procedures for a dual listing on the Paris and Tunis stock exchanges.
It stated that documents on the planned initial public offerings had been lodged with both bourses. The lodging of the documents represents the first stage of the process of the company listing in Paris and Tunis.
Tunisie Telecom provides telecommunication services. The company offers a full range of fixed, mobile and satellite telephony services. It also provides ADSL services to its residential and business subscribers. Tunisie Telecom was founded in 1995 and is based in Tunis, Tunisia.
Orange employs 3G services in Tunisia
According to a new report from Pyramid Research, an exclusive license to offer 3G services is enabling mobile giant Orange to gain a strong foothold in Tunisia’s mobile telecom market, and the operator is likely to continue to build market share even after competitive 3G services begin launching next year.
According to Mehdi Ben Said, Senior Analyst at Pyramid, in May 2010, Orange Tunisie started operating in the country as its third mobile operator and first 3G player. The universal license awarded to Orange Tunisie is expected not only to disrupt the mobile market because of 3G, but Pyramid expects it to leverage the power of its brand to offer real converging services. Orange Tunisie has 3G exclusivity until February 2011, and is expected to capture 22.4% market share and 16.9% revenue share by year-end 2015.
Ben added that on the fixed side, Tunisie Telecom still monopolizes the market. However, the entry of Orange Tunisie as a new fixed-mobile operator is expected to bring much-needed competition into the fixed segment and bring broadband access prices down. Waiting to deploy its own wired network and for the LLU to be acted, Orange Tunisie is already creating market disruptions by positioning itself in the segment with FWA technology over 3G, thereby making service convergence a reality.
Ben noted that a second 3G license has been announced in late September 2010, but no new fixed license will be awarded until January 2013. The upcoming 3G liberalization also offers opportunities for ultra-low-cost 3G handset manufacturers; this is a market that will become more and more addicted to usage but can’t afford high-end handsets.
Tunisie Telecom Planning Stock Market Listing
The head of the Tunis stock exchange has announced that Tunisia’s Tunisie Telecom will be listed on the local and a main European stock exchange before the end of the year.
According to reports citing Mohamed Bichiou, chief executive officer of the Tunis stock exchange, Tunisie Telecom will be listed before the end of the year…. The listing will be on the Tunis bourse and a European bourse. The Tunisian state would contribute 10% of the company’s shares, while the other 10% would come from United Arab Emirates shareholders.
Tunisie Telecom is majority owned by the state while Dubai’s TECOM Investments and Dubai Investment Group jointly holds 35%.
There are currently three mobile network operators in the country – the state controlled Tunisie Telcom which is the sole landline operator, and Tunisiana, which just operates a mobile phone network. Earlier this year, France Telecom’s Orange launched a 3G network in the country, in cooperation with Investec, a Tunisian subsidiary of the Mabrouk group. Orange holds 49% of the joint venture. The company was awarded its operating license in June 2009.
According to figures from the analysts, the country has 9.95 million mobile phone users, which represents a population penetration level of 94%.
Tunisia grants a 3G License
If reports are to be believed, Tunisia’s state-controlled mobile network operator, Tunisie Telecom has been awarded a 3G license. Tunisie Telecom had paid US$80.2 million for the license.
Tunisie Telecom is majority owned by the state while Dubai’s TECOM Investments and Dubai Investment Group jointly hold 35%.
There are currently three mobile network operators in the country – the state controlled Tunisie Telcom which is the sole landline operator, and Tunisiana, which presently operates a mobile phone network.
Previously this year, France Telecom’s Orange launched a 3G network in the country, in cooperation with Investec, a Tunisian subsidiary of the Mabrouk group. Orange holds 49% of the joint venture. The company was awarded its operating license in June 2009.
According to figures from the Mobile World analysts, the country has 9.95 million mobile phone users, which represents a population penetration level of 94%.
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
