Africa & Middle East Telecom weekly news

September 25th to October 2nd 2008

AFRICA:
African mobile service providers to gear up for improved services
China Mobile to invest in emerging markets
Ericsson to establish mobile innovation centre in Africa
Gateway Communications, MEASAT forge AFRICASAT-1 lease deal
Nokia appeals to EAC to reduce taxes on cell phones

BAHRAIN:
Tata Communications ties up with Batelco for extension of MPLS Connectivity

BOTSWANA:
EWG receives USD 10 million funding

GUINEA:
Departure details for Telecom Malaysia

IRAN:
TCI stake sale gains momentum

ISRAEL:
Ap-Sab-Ar consortium acquires additional 10.66 percent stake in Bezeq
NextWave Wireless to halt Israeli operations
Pelephone to deploy Amdoc solution in UMTS network

KENYA:
Zain slashes inter-network call rates

LEBANON:
Decision regarding telecom auction to be taken soon

MALAWI:
Politically correct card played by Zain

MAURITIUS:
New ICT minister takes his place

MIDDLE EAST:
Green Packet Networks to set up WiMAX consultancy firm

NAMIBIA:
Telecom Namibia introduces 3G service for pre-paid subscribers

NIGERIA:
Etisalat Nigeria commercially launches services

OMAN:
Bidders stand-by for announcement

QATAR:
Qtel reduces additional data download rates

RWANDA:
MTN told to pull its socks up

SIERRA LEONE:
CDMA network ready to roll

SOUTH AFRICA:
Telecom Italia vies acquisition of stake in MTN
Telkom denies influencing minister’s appeal
Vodafone eyeing controlling stake in Vodacom

TUNISIA:
Divona signs for Ethernet-Based WiMAX Backhaul Network

UGANDA:
Machage Kisyeri joins as finance director in Zain Uganda
UCC conducts study to check GSM spectrum availability
UCC lays conditions to reverse radio spectrum pricing

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:
Etisalat to announce another acquisition before year-end

ZIMBABWE:
Econet to charge for international calls in foreign currency