Africa & Middle East Telecom weekly news

30th of August to 6th of September 2007

AFGHANISTAN:
Etisalat launches new GSM service in Afghanistan 

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST:
MTN posts strong results in 1H 2007 

AFRICA:
Tope Lawani resigns from the board of MIC 

BAHRAIN:
2Connect awaits TRA’s approval to deploy fibre optic cables
MTC-Vodafone to launch nationwide WiMAX network in Bahrain
TRA approves Batelco’s reduction in IDD call rates 

EGYPT:
Orascom Telecom Posts Increased 1H 2007 Results 

GAMBIA:
GAMTEL board dissolved following sale of shares 

GHANA:
Government selects advisors for the privatisation of GT 

IRAQ:
Korek, Iraqna form JV to operate in Iraq 

KENYA:
ZTE to provide low-cost mobile handsets to Safaricom 

KUWAIT:
MTC to move headquarters to Bahrain 

MAURITIUS:
Alvarion to assist Emtel in WiMAX network deployment 

MOROCCO:
Meditel selects DMC tool from Sicap in Morocco 

NAMIBIA:
NPTH appoints new board of directors 

NIGERIA:
Celtel empowers SME subscribers by launching new SME bundle
Five carriers apply for subsidies to serve rural areas
MultiChoice Africa introduces DVB-H mobile TV service in Nigeria
Transcorp selects three new companies to provide technical assistance to NITEL 

PALESTINE:
LHS selected by Paltel to install BSCS iX Release 2 system 

QATAR:
Qatar postpones deadline for licence bid by two weeks
Qtel to refinance USD 2.5 billion acquisition loan 

SAUDI ARABIA:
Mobily offers mobile number portability benefits 

SOUTH AFRICA:
MTN reduces data bundles and data contracts tariffs
Telkom to sell stake in fixed-line and mobile subsidiaries 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
UAE regulator to increase competition in Internet service sector