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AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST TELECOM-WEEK is your weekly update service in this fast-moving telecoms market! Never before has Africa and the Middle East offered such a remarkable business opportunity for telecom manufacturers, operators and suppliers. africantelecomsnews Click here for immediate access to the world's largest Online Archive dedicated solely to the African and Middle East telecoms market: mobile; fixed and MVNO - 15,366 articles and data sets for the period Febraury 2000 thru March 2010. Telecom News & Operator Data from issue 415 dated 11 March 2010: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Middle East Net Additions 3Q08-3Q09 AFGHANISTAN: ATRA addresses poor QoS The Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA), following its monitoring of the quality... < more > AWCC signs-off five provinces under TDF program The Ministry of Comminunications and IT (MCIT) established its Telecom Development Fund (TDF) to... < more > ALGERIA: Tax dispute not over yet says OTA Orascom Telecom Algérie has had its appeal rejected in respect of the tax years 2005, 2006 and... < more > BAHRAIN: Batelco and GBI sign cable landing deal Batelco, a Bahrain-based telecommunication company, has recently signed a contract with Gulf Bridge... < more > Batelco subsidiary gets stop order S Tel, a joint venture between India’s Siva Group and Bahrain Telecom (Batelco), has been instructed... < more > Send off for Saudi system The Saudi Telecom Company (STC) formally launched its Viva Bahrain operation on... < more > GHANA: MTN to offer 3G services over 900MHz band MTN and Ericsson have partnered to deploy a 3G network in the 900MHz band for MTN’s Ghana ...< more > Recharge card ultimatum issued Kasapa is the only operator to have fully complied with the Communications Ministry’s requirement... < more > GUINEA BISSU: Sonatel gears up for festival traffic Sonatel has strengthened its network in anticipation of the Grand Magal de Touba - the annual...< more > IRAQ: Zain and Asiacell get favoured treatment The government has granted favourable terms to Zain and Asiacell, provided the operators guarantee....< more > ISRAEL: Bezeq Group reports financial results for 2009 Bezeq Group has announced financial results for fiscal 2009. The company has reported its net...< more > Bezeq International extends partnership with Interxion Bezeq International has extended its collocation contract with Interxion, a European carrier-neutral ...< more > Cellcom Israel expands RANalysis deployment Cellcom Israel has agreed to expand the deployment of RADCOM's RANalysis to effectively manage and...< more > JORDAN: Umniah launches new electronic portal Umniah has unveiled a new electronic portal ( www.umniah.com) to better serve its ADSL and Umax...< more > Zain considers proposals for LTE network launch Zain Jordan is reviewing a number of offers by international equipment providers, including...< more > KENYA: Call diversion from Telkom Kenya Telkom Kenya has launched a service that allows calls to be diverted to alternative...< more > France Telecom seeks compensation France Telecom has accused the government of not disclosing material information with respect...< more > Safaricom contracts with UAP to offer mobile insurance payouts Safaricom, a Vodafone-owned Kenyan mobile network operator, has contracted UAP, a pan-African...< more > Telkom Kenya revises strategic focus Telkom Kenya has announced that it will revise its strategic focus following the KES 10 billion...< more > KUWAIT: Wataniya partners with iBave for Internal Wireless Networks Wataniya Telecom has recently signed a partnership agreement with iBwave Solutions, a provider...< more > MALAWI: G-Mobile raises the anti The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has given G-Mobile - Malawi's third mobile operator...< more > QATAR: FTTH roll-out gets under way Qtel announced last week the first phase of a 3-year national programme for Fibre to the Home (FTTH) to link...< more > Qtel sees revenues up and profits down Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has announced 4Q and annual financial results for 2009. The profits for the...< more > Qtel signs capacity agreement with Intelsat Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has recently signed a multi-year capacity agreement with Intelsat, a fixed ...< more > RWANDA: Tigo targets low incomes Tigo Rwanda has recently increased talk-time on its 300 airtime voucher card from three minutes to...< more > SAUDI ARABIA: Mobily first with HSPA+ connect router Mobily has become the first operator to offer HSPA+-enabled Connect router. Dubbed the...< more > SOUTH AFRICA: Vodacom and MTN cut pre-paid prices Vodacom has introduced the lowest pre-paid tariffs in South Africa, allowing subscribers to make calls at ...< more > ZAMBIA: Gateway licence awarded to private operators The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) this week awarded the Al Yah Satellite Communications...< more > On the last lap, says LAP Green Networks LAP Green Networks, the Libyan telecom operator, has announced that it is a step closer to make its final..< more > Regulatory process keeps Zain waiting Late in February Zain Zambia’s MD David Holliday said that the roll-out of 3G had been delayed...< more > ZIMBABWE: Econet extends free service Econet Wireless, Zimbabwe’s principal mobile operator, has announced the extension of its...< more > Issue index:414 - 11 March 2010 | 414 - 4 March 2010 | 413 - 25 Feb 2010 | 412 - 18 Feb 2010 | 411 - 11 Feb 2010 | 410 - 04 Feb 2010 | 409 - 28 Jan 2010 | 408 - 21 Jan 2010 | 407 - 14 Jan 2010 | 406 - 07 Jan 2010 | 405 - 31 Dec 2009 |404 - 24 Dec 2009 |403 - 17 Dec 2009 | 402 - 10 Dec 2009 | 401 - 3 Dec 2009 | 400 - 26 Nov 2009 | 399 - 19 Nov 2009 Why Africa? "...Africa remains Millicom's fastest growing region and an increasing proportion of total Group capex has been invested in the region in 2008 and we expect that this will continue in 2009. The slightly lower growth in new subscribers, 611 thousand in Q4, reflects the more challenging economic conditions across Africa, but we expect to continue to achieve high growth in Africa as, with around 160 million people under license, Africa represents 55% of Millicom's potential market and with the penetration still low in all our markets, there is potential for high growth for many years to come." Millicom 4Q 2008 Financial Report Why 'Africa & Middle East Telecom-Week'? developing-telecoms.blogspot.com - 14 April 2009 "I have, of late, been taking advantage of an excellent newsletter from Blycroft Publishing - Africa & Middle East Telecoms Week." Acision "I like your magazine a lot! Very up-to-date and interesting info." Saudi Telecom "...it was my pleasure to receive your Africa & Middle east Telecom week, I believe it’s one of the highest standard reports I have seen in terms of coverage to the big news especially in Saudi Arabia where I work." Globitel "The title is meaningful, I like it mostly, nothing was bad so far.... It is great news." Neugroups "It is an excellent source of information, well compiled and concise. I am indeed interested to continue. Thank You." listerus & partners "I think that A & ME is very good. We are a consulting company and recommend it to our clients." September 2009 Country Report - Democratic Republic of Congo Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics The DRC is a mineral-rich country that is recovering from civil strife and many years of pillage by its former leaders which has accounted for the low level of development of its telecommunications and other infrastructure. While there has been little success with revitalising the fixed-line network infrastructure, the mobile networks have experienced strong growth and provide a replacement for fixed telephony and public payphones. Following the launch of mobile data services, they are also set to become major players in the underdeveloped Internet and broadband sector. Overall, market penetration is still well below the African average, leaving enormous potential for future growth. Check out the African Telecoms News' resource area for mobile telecoms market information and data. Click here for market research reports, studies and research services covering other telecom markets.

MOBILE MARKET DATA: Middle East Top 5 Mobile Operators by Net Additions 3Q08-3Q09 chart Middle East Mobile Operators by Net Additions 3Q08-3Q09 data table Bahrain Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q07-4Q09 chart and data table Ghana Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q07-4Q09 data table Israel Mobile Subscribers 4Q07-4Q09 chart and data table Malawi Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q07-4Q09 data table Qatar Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q07-4Q09 chart and data table Rwanada Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q07-4Q09 chart and data table