Africa & Middle East Telecom weekly news

September 18th to September 25th 2008

BAHRAIN:
Telcos to submit bids by 13 November 2008

BENIN:
Libercom thwarts Glo expansion

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO:
MTN Group to acquire Congo’s Supercell Sprl

EGYPT:
Orascom Telecom buys back 243,000 GDRs; receives offer for share purchase from Sawiris family

IRAQ:
Etisalat in talks with Iraqi carrier for entry in the country’s telecom sector

ISRAEL:
Yaakov Bantai steps down as Tadiran’s CEO

KENYA:
Telkom Kenya launches mobile services

KUWAIT:
Zain closes USD 4.5 billion capital hike offer

MALAWI:
MTL outlines USD 64 million investment for network upgrade
Zain Malawi targets nationwide coverage

MALI:
Maroc enters final round for Sotelma

MIDDLE EAST:
BT to invest USD 50 million in the Middle East

MOZAMBIQUE:
Portugal Telecom plans to strengthen foothold in Mozambique

NIGERIA:
NCC lifts MTN, Zain’s promotional ban
Russians come calling on Nitel
Transcorp warned to improve Mtel operations

QATAR:
Number porting from the start says regulator
Qtel expects to increase Indosat stake by 24 percent

SAUDI ARABIA:
Zain inks roaming agreement with du

SOUTH AFRICA:
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri appeals against high court’s decision
MTN vies African markets for investment
Telkom faces workers unions’ wrath again
Telkom, Mvelaphanda merger talks on hold; Vodafone deal still under discussion

TANZANIA:
Ruling on Vodacom’s appeal to be made soon
Zain launches new promotional offer

TURKEY:
3G licenses auction to be held in six months

UGANDA:
HITs Telecom receives UCC’s warning for launch of services

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
Etisalat gets entry in Indian telecom market