Africa & Middle East Telecom weekly news

April 10th to April 17th 2008

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST:
Orascom to establish new company to offer mobile banking

AFRICA:
Hits Africa recruits new top level executives to trigger growth

ALGERIA:
Algeria expected to launch 3G licence tender

BAHRAIN:
Batelco in final stages of NGN roll out

EGYPT:
Noor Financial expresses interest in Egypt’s second fixed-line licence
Tata Communications, TE Data sign agreement to expand VPN services in Egypt

GHANA:
EGH acquires Kasapa for USD 75 million

ISRAEL:
Digicel selects Alvarion to install WiMAX network across the Caribbean

KENYA:
Econet engages Ericsson for GSM network rollout
ZTE to construct national transmission network for Kenya

MALAWI:
Fayaz King appointed as new Celtel Malawi MD

MIDDLE EAST:
Zain’s One Network services reach the Middle East

SAUDI ARABIA:
Hits to raise USD 300 million
Saudi Shura Council investigates Mobily share sale

SIERRA LEONE:
Sierra Leone to get two new service providers soon

SOUTH AFRICA:
Telkom to improve broadband experience
Vodacom denies anti-trust authority’s charges
Vodacom launches Wi-Fi services

SWAZILAND:
MTN acquires stake in local distribution partner

SYRIA:
Turkcell still interested in Syriatel stake

TANZANIA:
Bashar Arafeh appointed as MD of Celtel Tanzania
Zamtel CEO dismissed amid arguments with CAZ
Zantel to introduce mobile money transfer service

TURKEY:
Turkcell eyes stake in BeST

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
Etisalat seeks extension of USD 3 billion loan facility

ZAMBIA:
Celtel Zambia to list 20 percent shares by end-April