Ivory Coast Signs Up 500,000 Subscribers in One Month"
At a conference last week, Etisalat's Senior Manager- Portfolio Management & Integration commented on the company's investments outside the company's home market. Saeed Al Hamli said "Etisalat's International Investments unit has developed immensely and has achieved a lot. Etisalat subsidiaries are poised to expand and advance even further, and as a Corporation we seek to explore all the opportunities in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Southern Europe", he added
Mr. Hamli also stated "The Company aims to develop services across all its investments in 14 countries in Africa and Asia. Etisalat's internationally achievements have mirrored the growth, development and innovation in the UAE."
Mobily in Saudi Arabia added over 6 million customers and over 15 value added services in 2006. Mobily pioneered the BlackBerry solution in the Kingdom- initially for businesses and later for the individual customer.
Etisalat Misr is establishing itself as the third mobile service network in Egypt and intends to offer more services in the near future. Etisalat Misr also showcased its 3G network services in 2006 by making the first voice and video call over a 3G network in Egypt.
Since the launch of second fixed line network in Sudan, Canar has acquired 38% of the fixed voice and 44% of the internet market in Sudan. Canar is the first operator in Africa to deploy a full-fledged NGN network. By year 2006, network coverage included Greater Khartoum and five other major cities. In December 2006, Canar launched Sudan's first 3G wireless broadband Internet services using EVDO technology, under the brand name "Canar Gl".
Etisalat invested in Atlantique Telecom, an African telecom operator with operations in Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Gabon and Central African Republic. Services in Cote d'Ivoire were launched in July 2006, and in just five months of operations the subscriber base reached 500,000 in its first month of operations.
Etisalat acquired shares in Zantel, which expanded its operations to cover Mainland Tanzania. The impact of such an expansion was dramatic, propelling Zantel from 100,000 subscribers in 2005 to 360,000 by end 2006.
Etisalat Afghanistan offers mobile services with 2G and plans to introduce its services in the first half of this year.
Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company has made steady progress towards becoming a leading multiregional mobile satellite service provider. Etisalat has also taken Thuraya services to those nations where the geographical conditions make it difficult to provide GSM services."
Posted to the site on 16th April 2007
