Africa & Middle East Telecom weekly news

November 2nd to November 8th 2007

AFGHANISTAN:
Afghan Wireless deploys digital microwave ring around the country 

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST:
MTN Group reports increase in 3Q subscriber growth 

AFRICA:
Nigerian Commerce and Industry Minister seeks Celtel’s Nigeria and Niger networks’ integration 

BAHRAIN:
Batelco to launch extended validity SimSim voucher 

EGYPT:
Etisalat to raise USD 800 million loan to fund network expansion 

GAMBIA:
Micheal Ten appointed as new MD for Gamtel/Gamcel 

IRAQ:
Iraqi operators to expand operations 

ISRAEL:
012 Smile.Communications IPO raises USD 80.1 million
Ericsson to provide HSPA network for Pelephone
Partner Communications releases 3Q 2007 results
Radwin to assist MTN in cellular backhaul project 

KENYA:
Government extends deadline for submission of bids for Telkom sale
Telkom to increase service tariffs 

MOROCCO:
Maroc Telecom registers 19 percent increase in revenue 

NIGERIA:
President pushes NCC to grant mobile licence to NigComSat 

OMAN:
Nawras to offer 3G services 

QATAR:
Qatar Telecom obtains USD 3 billion loan
Qtel launches new Hala offer 

SAUDI ARABIA:
i2 to launch MVNO services in Jordan
Mobily introduces new billing scheme 

SOUTH AFRICA:
Vodacom collaborates with Omnifone to offer music download service 

TURKEY:
Alcatel-Lucent to provide IP/MPLS upgrade to Avea
Turkcell collaborates with Simena to develop test equipment 

UGANDA:
MTN cuts Internet prices by 20 percent
Warid begins deployment of wireless communication technology 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
du introduces new Visitor Mobile Line Pack 

ZIMBABWE:
POTRAZ to reduce telecom tariffs