Telecoms & ITC

Middle East IT outsourcing starts to grow

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been slower than others to capitalise from the global wave in information technology (IT) outsourcing. As countries in the region strive to develop knowledge-based economies, the skills can not come fast enough to fill businesses' growing demands for IT services and outsourcing.

MVNO's to arrive in UAE, and the Gulf

The natural process of competition in the Gulf mobile market is almost certain to bring MVNOs into the picture despite regulator resistance.? The announcement by the Jordanian telecommunications regulator that it would allow Mobile Virtual Network Operators, or MVNOs, to operate in the country clearly anticipates the introduction of MVNOs in the rest of the Gulf, analysts say.

World's first nationwide WiMAX network launches in Bahrain

The technology liberalises the fixed telecommunications market in the Kingdom for the first time and means customers at home can bundle together high speed broadband internet connectivity (up to 2 Mbps), fixed line voice and mobile services without the need for a land line. The network has been launched by Zain's pioneering operation in Bahrain and shifts the mobile services provider to an integrated telecommunications operator by offering high speed wireless internet access and fixed line services.

UAE not to open up telecom sector to foreign firms

The UAE government has ruled out opening up the telecommunications sector to foreign players in the near future and expects tariffs to become competitive because Etisalat no longer has a monopoly on running phone and internet services.

Pakistan eyes the US$13.4 billion Middle East IT market

Pakistan has launched a major drive to step up IT exports to the Gulf countries. The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries offer huge potential for Pakistan IT industry, an official of Pakistan Software Export Board said in a statement.

Iraq telco services markets anticipated to reach US$1.5 billion for cellular systems

The number of mobile subscribers in Iraq for the three largest companies is at 9m users at the end of 2006, representing a mobile penetration rate of approximately 33%. The market added a total of 1.36m subscribers over the quarter to end-2006, representing the strongest number of user additions since launching service in December 2003.

Mobinil obtains 3G license for US$603M

The Egyptian Mobile Phone Services Company (Mobinil) has sealed an agreement with the Ministry of Communication on a 3G license for E?3.34 billion (US$603m) in addition to 2.4 per cent of total annual revenues from the company's services.? The new license will give Mobinil the opportunity to provide its customers with a range of new services, including visual communication and video messaging, file downloads, data transfer, and high-speed internet navigation.