Africa & Middle East Telecom weekly news

January 24th to January 31st 2008

AFRICA:
VSNL acquires stake in EASSy Project 

ALGERIA:
Algerie Telecom plans nationwide FTTH roll out in 2008 

BAHRAIN:
Batelco plans network upgrade 

EGYPT:
Orascom seeks USD 2.5 billion loan 

IRAN:
MTN selects Intense Technologies for telecom software contract 

ISRAEL:
Internet Gold OKs buyback of USD 30 million convertible bonds 

KENYA:
Government declares 50 percent regional investors’ ownership in TEAMS
Telkom lays off another 4,000 employees
Telkom plans to offer GSM services 

KUWAIT:
Zain files for USD 1.2 billion syndicated loan
Zain registers improved annual 2007 results 

MOZAMBIQUE:
Alcatel-Lucent to deploy 3G network for mCel 

NIGERIA:
MTN continues upgrade exercise
Subscribers file collective suit against Nigerian telecom players
Union seeks reversal of NITEL/Mtel privatisation 

OMAN:
Omantel registers improved results in 4Q 2007
Omantel selects Huawei for 3G deployment 

SAUDI ARABIA:
Mobily collaborates with Etisalat UAE and Egypt to expand fibre network 

SOUTH AFRICA:
Vodacom launches 3.6 Mbps HSDPA service
Vodafone revives hope to gain control of Vodacom 

UGANDA:
Celcom extends its reach in Uganda by acquiring stake in MTN’s dealership 

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
Etisalat posts annual and 4Q 2007 results
Etisalat ready for VoIP offering