Telecoms & ITC

Qatar: Riding the crest of the ICT wave

Qatar is planning to improve further its information and communications technology (ICT) services through a public access government portal, while encouraging the wider use of advanced technological applications by the public in their dealings with the state, business and leisure. Qatar has long been a regional leader in promoting the use of ICT in government services, establishing the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) in 2005 to oversee the development of the country into a fully integrated information-based society. ictQATAR, which also serves as the country's independent telecommunications regulator, is fostering the state's Integrated E-Government Programme (i-Gov), which aims to improve the provision of state services, raise levels of transparency and accountability, and reduce costs through the use of ICT. (source: OBG)

Dubai: Getting IT right

Having been an early convert to the cause of information and communications technology (ICT), both as a tool of the economy and a sector in its own right, Dubai is looking to maintain its edge over regional rivals. The emirate has long recognized the importance of integrating IT into the economy, having invested heavily in infrastructure to ensure that there is a strong communications backbone. This is evidenced by the government's policy of providing as many of its services as possible via ICT channels, with at least 90 per cent of these to be available online by the end of next year. The second part of Dubai's ICT policy has been to promote investment in the sector, either through encouraging overseas companies to base themselves in the emirate or by putting in place the means for local firms to grow and start-ups to take root.

Kuwait's Zain telecom halts talks on sale of African assets

Kuwaiti telecom giant Zain has halted negotiations for the sale of its African assets after an Indian-led consortium expressed interest to buy a majority stake in the firm, Zain's CEO has said. "Negotiations over Zain African assets have been halted," Saad al-Barrak told a press conference. "This came at the request of the potential buyers." Last month, leading investors at Zain signed a preliminary agreement with an Indian-Malaysian consortium to sell a 46-per cent stake in a deal estimated at around US$14 billion. The consortium consists of Malaysia’s al-Bukhary Group, India’s Vavasi Group and state-run Indian firms Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (MTNL). Later, BSNL and MTNL said they were still considering whether to join the consortium. The 46-per cent stake forms a controlling majority in Zain since 10 per cent of the company shares are held by the board of directors and thus are neutralized in voting.

Sixteen firms buy Egypt Telco license bid docs

Sixteen firms have bought bid documents for Egypt's new telecom licenses, the industry regulator said, with one official describing the tenders as just a first step to further liberalization. Firms that have confirmed their interest include existing operators Mobinil and Vodafone, and regional operator Orascom Telecom. "We would have liked to do it as Vodafone Egypt but because Telecom Egypt is one of our shareholders we got excluded as Vodafone Egypt, however we will do it as part of the Vodafone Group," Hatem Dowidar, the CEO of the Egyptian unit said. The two licenses being offered by the government are for bundled internet, fixed-line telecoms and cable TV within residential compounds. Etisalat. a UAE firm that is the third mobile operator in Egypt, has been mooted by analysts as a contender but has not confirmed its interest.

Telecommunications agreement in Bahrain

Viper Networks, Inc. announces that it has entered into an agreement with a leading telecommunications operator in the Kingdom of Bahrain, for sales, distribution and other value-added services, as part of the Company's continuing expansion with leading telecom operators throughout Asia, the Middle East, Australia and other continents, for its recently awarded India telecom license. To complete their telecommunications infrastructure and provide a full range of fixed and nomadic telecommunications services throughout the country, the telecom operator for Bahrain has been working with Viper Networks and Trimax Wireless, a telecommunications industry supplier of WiMAX and wireless technology.