Telecoms & ITC

Kuwait's Zain mulls Europe buyout as early as '08

Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co (Zain) said it may make an acquisition in Europe as early as next year and sell more shares soon to help finance growth.

GCC investments into the IT industry poised to reach US$5 billion in 2007

GCC investments into the IT industry is poised to reach US$5 billion in 2007 with Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounting for 47% and 30% of this total respectively, according to the latest IDC reports.

OT plans to vie for a mobile license in Lebanon

Egypt's Orascom Telecom plans to compete over a mobile phone operation license in Lebanon, according to the company's chairman Naguib Sawiris, who rebuffs any risk in the move noting that the country is not a politically unstable place.

Mobily starts SAR1 billion expansion for its 3.5G network

Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) began the first phase of the second expansion of the 3.5G network across the Kingdom in order to keep pace with the latest 3.5G technologies and expand its network to reach new cities and provinces of the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia: Working for IT growth

Saudi Arabia must accelerate the process of e-government readiness and formulate detailed educational initiatives aimed at producing IT professionals capable of meeting the private sector's employment needs, according to industry experts.

Nuetel and British Telecom sign a deal

Nuetel, Bahrain's leading telecom provider and British Telecom signed a multi-million dollar deal through which British Telecom will offer operations management, marketing and consultancy activities to Nuetel.

British Telecom will operate Neutel's infrastructure for the coming three years and will ensure provision of a 24-hour weekly technical support as well as the following up and offering of new services.

Etisalat may invest US$5 billion in African telecoms

Mohamed Omran, chairman of the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), announced the regional telecoms giant may invest between US$3 billion and US$5 billion in Africa, if viable opportunities presented themselves.

Qtel expands mobile grid subscribers to 14.2 billion, nets QR1.5 billion profits in nine months

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and its group subsidiaries have disclosed their financial results for the first nine months of this year ended last September 30. "Qtel Group has achieved positive growth in revenues and returns prior to deducting interest, taxes and depreciation dues," announced Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, chairman of Qtel, underscoring that the number of mobile subscribers spiked from 1.3m in September 2006 to 14.2m in the same month in 2007.