Africa & Middle East Telecom weekly news

Marsh 13th to Marsh 20th 2008

AFGHANISTAN:
Government to privatise Afghan Telecom

AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST:
Alcatel-Lucent signs submarine cable deployment contract with Etisalat subsidiary
Zain to implement Mobinex’s Smartface Platform

AFRICA:
MTN reports sparkling sales
Talaat El Lahham appointed new Hits Africa CEO

BAHRAIN:
Zain Bahrain to float IPO by June-end

EGYPT:
Second fixed-line licence attracts five firms
TE in acquisition talks to expand operations
TE posts annual profit of EGP 2.53 billion

GHANA:
GT plans commercial IPTV launch in April

ISRAEL:
Cellcom Israel posts increased 4Q 2007 results
Gronau committee proposes measures to boost telecom competition

JORDAN:
Umniah introduces new voice SMS service

KENYA:
Kenya to raise KES 50 billion from Safaricom IPO

KUWAIT:
Zain selects NBK to manage capital increase

NAMIBIA:
Cell One offers reduced calling tariffs on international calls

NIGERIA:
Etisalat launches mobile network in Nigeria
Globacom extends Optic Fibre backbone

OMAN:
Nawras to invest OMR 100 million; plans IPO
Omantel selects UAE’s Mashreq Bank to arrange for syndicated loan facility
Qtel expresses interest in second fixed-line licence

SAUDI ARABIA:
Mobily receives regulatory approval for Bayanat acquisition

SOUTH AFRICA:
South Africa inks USD 700 million submarine cable agreement

TURKEY:
Avea looking forward to MNP launch in October
Turkcell wins 3G licence in Northern Cyprus

UGANDA:
Uganda to roll out first phase of national data backbone in April

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
du launches anniversary offer for new customers
Etisalat to set up new research centre in collaboration with BT