ZTE Wins Libyan Network Contract

Libyan mobile network operator, Libyana has awarded a EUR41 million (US$58.4 million) network expansion contract to China's ZTE, the company announced in a statement last week. The company currently covers just over 72% of the population.

Libyana was established in 2004 as a Company owned by the General Post and Telecommunication Company (GPTC). Libyana is one of two Mobile Phone operators owned by GPTC. Muhammad Qaddafi, the eldest son of Libyan president Muammar al-Gaddafi is the Chairman . Libyana entered the Libyan market with Low cost services to compete with the already existing Almadar Mobile Provider, which was also later bought by GPTC.

The company says that it it launched a 3G service in September 2006.

Estimates from the Mobile World database suggest that the company ended Q1 '08 with around 5.2 million subscribers - representing a market share of 80%.

Posted to the site on 14th September 2008