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For African telecoms news, AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST TELECOM WEEK is your weekly news 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. Claim your FREE copy of the 'Africa Mobile Factbook 2008' Claim your free copy of Blycroft's 'Africa Mobile Factbook 2008'. Click here to claim your African Mobile Factbook 2008. The 'Africa Mobile Factbook 2008' is 22-pages of detailed data on the mobile industry with analysis by Country and by Operator, with both annual growth and quarterly growth highlighted. And it's yours completely free and without obligation! "Thanks a lot for sending me a copy of Africa Mobile Factbook 2008, containing very useful information on Africa region telecommunication data." June 2008: International Business Division, Reliance What readers say about 'Africa & Middle East Telecom 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." May 2008 Country Report - Cameroon Telecoms Market Overview & Statistics May's Country Report is available for Subscribers to download now from the Africa & Middle East Telecom Week Subscriber Archive. Like in most African countries, Cameroon's mobile market has been booming since competition was introduced, while the fixed-line sector has been stagnant. Convergence between fixed and mobile, voice and data services is now set to change the market dramatically: The fixed-line incumbent, Camtel, is re-entering the mobile sector through a third national licence, while the existing mobile operators are establishing themselves as leading ISPs by introducing mobile data services and acquiring existing ISPs. The mobile operators are also among the bidders in the privatisation of a majority stake in Camtel with a view to providing converged services. The existing ISPs are combining their forces by merging and preparing to offer VoIP services through newly established wireless broadband networks. Headlines from issue 336 dated 04 September 2008: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Middle East Operators by Net Additions 1Q 2008 AFRICA: Sonus considers expansion in Africa BURKINO FASO: Atlantique bows out of Telecel EGYPT: MobiNil announces dividend of EGP 6 per share Orascom Telecom posts fading profits Telcos to meet to discuss interconnection rates GUINEA: Sotelgui to get new investor after TM exits IRAN: Iran licence attracts interest of leading telcos ISRAEL: Wataniya contracts Ericsson for Palestinian network infrastructure KENYA: France Telecom outlines annual investment of KES 7 billion for Telkom Kenya KUWAIT: Zain looks to get into the Loop MALAWI: Zain to invest MWK 13 billion MALI: Government shortlists 18 companies for Sotelma bidding NAMIBIA: Telecom, Cell One accuse MTC of exorbitant fees NIGERIA: Alheri to commence 3G services in December Etisalat to commercially launch operations soon Globacom partners with state governments for telecom provision OMAN: Six bidders shortlisted for second fixed-line licence QATAR: Qtel gears up for rapid expansion SAUDI ARABIA: Zain outlines investment of USD 1.5 billion in Saudi Arabia SIERRA LEONE: Sierratel wins 5 year extension in gateway contract SOUTH AFRICA: Altech to deploy new telecom network MTN reports improved 1H ’08 results Vodacom acquires Gateway for USD 700 million TURKEY: Avea to bid for 3G licence Turk Telekom bids for stake in Kyrgyztelecom Turkcell acquires 80 percent stake in BeST UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: du to develop Web portal for NGOs WiMAX - SOUTH AFRICA: Vodacom plans October ’08 launch of commercial WiMAX broadband services Charts & Tables from issue 335 dated 28 August 2008: Africa Regions by Net Additions 1Q08 Botswana Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 1Q06-1Q08 Egypt Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 1Q06 - 2Q08 Gambia Mobile Subscribers 2Q 2008 Iran Mobile Subscribers 1Q08 Israel Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q05 - 2Q08 Kenya Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 1Q 2007 - 2Q 2008 Kuwait Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q05-2Q08 Palestine Mobile Subscribers & Mobile Penetration 1Q07 - 2Q08 Headlines from issue 335 dated 28 August 2008: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Africa Regions by Net Additions 1Q08 Top 100 Africa Operators by Net Additions 1Q08 BAHRAIN: Batelco stake sale underway BOTSWANA: Mascom Wireless upgrades network to 3G EGYPT: MobiNil to witness top-level executive changes Vodafone Egypt to acquire majority stake in Sarcom GAMBIA: Q-Cell wins fourth GSM licence IRAN: Iran to auction third mobile phone licence ISRAEL: Alcatel-Lucent to assist Bezeq in metro Ethernet network deployment Bezeq posts improved 2Q ’08 results KENYA: Chris Tiffin takes up the role of Safaricom’s new CFO Essar to invest KES 3.5 billion in Econet Safaricom strikes KES 180 million acquisition deal with OneCom KUWAIT: Kuwait Telecom opens IPO for 50 percent stake LEBANON: Mobile network privatisation further delayed NIGERIA: Mtel workers protest for non-remittance of benefits OMAN: Omantel reduces fixed-line tariffs PALESTINE: Wataniya Telecom to commence operations in early-2009 QATAR: Vodafone Qatar in talks with MEEZA SAUDI ARABIA: Zain launches operations SENEGAL: Orange launches HSDPA trial in Dakar SOUTH AFRICA: Cell C posts improved 1H ’08 results TURKEY: Turk Telekom announces 2Q 2008 results Turkey to award MVNO licence by November ’08 UGANDA: NSSF shows interest in MTN Uganda stake UETCL to get public infrastructure provider licence soon UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: du extends roaming service in 120 nations ZAMBIA: Government increases International gateway licence fees MTN, Zain reject infrastructure sharing request Charts & Tables from issue 334 dated 21 August 2008: Middle East Top 10 Mobile Operators 1Q 2008 Afghanistan Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 1Q06-1Q08 Ghana Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 1Q06 - 1Q08 Israel's Cellcom Mobile Subscribers 1Q07-1Q08 Kuwait Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 1Q06 - 1Q08 Oman Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 1Q06 - 1Q08 Headlines from issue 334 dated 21 August 2008: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Middle East Top 40 Mobile Operators 1Q 2008 AFGHANISTAN: Roshan obtains USD 55 million loan from ADB AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST: MENA Region to account for 26 percent of global Internet users BAHRAIN: Third mobile phone carrier to be announced by ’09 BOTSWANA: Government spends USD 100 million in EASSy project EGYPT: Orascom Telecom to buyback shares Telecom Egypt reports EGP 1.2 billion net profit in 1H ’08 Telecom Egypt to expand international operations through acquisitions GHANA: Vodafone concludes GT stake acquisition ISRAEL: 012 Smile.Communications reports ILS 263.6 million revenues in 2Q ’08 Cellcom posts improved 2Q ’08 results KENYA: Government grants two-month extension to Econet Safaricom upgrades network to HSDPA Telkom Kenya establishes enterprise division Telkom to go for another round of staff retrenchment Zain introduces ‘Choose Your Number’ service for subscribers KUWAIT: Kuwait Telecom to commence stake sale soon Zain begins USD 4.5 billion share subscription offer NAMIBIA: Telecom Namibia faces heat on tender issue NIGERIA: Globacom to complete submarine cable project by early-’09 NITEL fills top management positions Senate committee probes NITEL’s financial records Zain’s Ligali named the best CEO at the 2008 Telecom Awards OMAN: Eight telecom operators qualify for Omantel’s 25 percent stake sale SOUTH AFRICA: DOC to award mobile TV licence in 2009 Vodacom settles lawsuit with ICASA UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etisalat discontinues talks with Datacom; initiates talks with Swan ZIMBABWE: Inflation causes another round of mobile tariff hike Charts & Tables from issue 331 dated 31 July 2008:          Southern Africa Mobile Operator Share by State 1Q 2008 Southern Africa Population by State 1Q08 UAE Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 4Q05 - 1Q08 Headlines from issue 331 dated 31 July 2008: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Southern Africa Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 1Q 2008 BAHRAIN: Batelco posts 15 percent decline in 2Q net profit BURUNDI: Ericsson to deploy GSM network for Lacell ISRAEL: WPT allocated spectrum KENYA: AccessKenya invests USD 3.5 million to offer residential Internet service KUWAIT: Government to launch IPO for third telecom carrier in August Zain posts improved 1H 2008 results MALAWI: MACRA awards mobile licence to Global Advanced Integrated Networks TNM to float shares on the MSE in 2008 MOROCCO: Maroc Telecom posts improved 1H ’08 results NAMIBIA: MTC Namibia invests NAD 300 million in network infrastructure NIGERIA: Celtel appoints two top level officers Globacom expects submarine cable project completion by May 2009 OMAN: Nawras appoints chairman STC shows interest in Omantel stake acquisition SAUDI ARABIA: STC lowers roaming rates Zain to launch third GSM mobile phone network SOUTH AFRICA: Altech, ECN Telecoms offer cheap international calls MTN outlines ZAR 7.1 billion investment Telkom VSAT customers to face service interruption due to maintenance Vodacom concludes BEE deal TURKEY: Turkcell inks agreement to acquire controlling stake in BeST UGANDA: HITs Telecom faces licence revocation risk MTN Uganda being accused of poor service quality UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: du reports USD 12 million net loss in 2Q ’08 ZAMBIA: Celtel posts ZMK 118.3 billion profit in 1H ’08 ZIMBABWE: Econet receives approval for 2.5G, 3G service launch Charts & Tables from issue 330 dated 24 July 2008:          Eastern Africa Mobile Operator Share by State 1Q 2008 Eastern Africa Population by State 1Q08 Ghana Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 4Q05 - 1Q08 Oman Mobile Operators 1Q08 Headlines from issue 330 dated 24 July 2008: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Eastern Africa Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 1Q 2008 EGYPT: OT to set up new Canadian wireless operator GHANA: Ghana Parliament delays decision on Vodafone-GT deal NCA formally awards sixth mobile phone licence to Glo Mobile ISRAEL: Ministry of Communication denies discounts to IDF KENYA: Charles Kinyanjui Njoroge appointed as new CCK director general KUWAIT: Government gives approval to third mobile phone carrier to initiate services MALAWI: TNM outlines USD 28 million investment plan MALI: Mali to launch Sotelma privatisation tender offer by year-end NIGERIA: Celtel to offer international roaming service to pre-paid customers Globacom to install 300,000 fixed-lines Transcorp appoints new NITEL chairman and CEO OMAN: Nawras upgrades broadband offering Oman to offload 25 percent stake in Omantel Omantel and MENA sign USD 400 million agreement to improve telecom efficiency QATAR: QFMA commences application processing to list Wataniya Telecom shares at DSM SAUDI ARABIA: HITS Telecom acquires MVNO operations in Spain Mobily posts 47 percent hike in 2Q profits Mobily to compensate customers for service interruption STC posts improved 1H and 2Q 2008 results SOUTH AFRICA: MTN-RCOM no deal; MTN looks to Latin America Solidarity negotiates 10.5 percent pay hike for Telkom members Telkom South Africa considering media unit stake sale TANZANIA: TTCL workers raise voice against Celtel contract TURKEY: Turk Telekom to bid for Kyrgyztelecom UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etisalat to distribute 25 percent dividends for 1H 2008 Etisalat withdraws Tata Teleservices equity talks WiMAX - ISRAEL: ELRO selects ECI to establish WiMAX network in Denmark Headlines from issue 329 dated 17 July 2008: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Central Africa Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 1Q 2008 AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST: Etisalat launches mobile roaming alliance in three nations Juniper forecasts mobile revenues in MEA region to reach USD 107 billion by 2013 NTT DoCoMo vies expansion in Asia and MEA region AFRICA: Seacom appoints new executives ALGERIA: Djezzy cuts promotion short following ARPT intervention Mobilis Algeria Telecom launches new services Nedjma extends offer following price cut BOTSWANA: BTA presses on SIM card registration CAMEROON: Yemba becomes first MVNO in Cameroon COTE D'IVOIRE: Orange launch financial service GHANA: Ghana MP wants Vodafone-GT deal suspended KENYA: Celtel appoints new MD; outlines USD 381.4 million investment plans Celtel extends GPRS roaming service in Nigeria Safaricom offers 3G services in Mombasa MALAWI: New subsidised mobiles from TNM MOZAMBIQUE: mCel releases annual 2007 results NIGERIA: Celtel Nigeria commissions new MSS in the South East region Transcorp outlines USD 100 million investment in NITEL Vodafone planning to acquire majority stake in NITEL OMAN: Interest in Omantel shapes-up QATAR: Qtel’s hopes to increase stake in Indosat busted SOUTH AFRICA: RCOM, MTN merger talks extended Vodacom appoints Pieter Uys as new CEO TURKEY: Cytamobile-Vodafone upgrades network to HSDPA Turkcell to offer Windows Live Messenger service to subscribers UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etisalat introduces new software for Internet customers’ assistance Etisalat posts 58 percent increase in 2Q ’08 profits WiMAX - JORDAN: Wi-tribe looks to expands WiMAX nationally ZAMBIA: Second phase of nationwide fibre optic deployment begins WAN to link Zambian post offices Charts & Tables from issue 328 dated 10 July 2008: Northern Africa Mobile Operator Statistics 1Q 2008 Turkey Mobile Subscribers & Penetration 4Q05-1Q08 Algeria Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 4Q05 - 1Q08 Ghana Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 4Q05 - 1Q08 Mozambique Mobile Operators & Mobile Penetration 4Q05 - 1Q08 Headlines from issue 328 dated 10 July 2008: A & ME SUBSCRIBER STATISTICS: Northern Africa States Mobile Network Subscriber Statistics: 1Q 2008 EGYPT: Second fixed-line licence deadline postponed again Telecom Executive Chairman to step down ETHIOPIA: Network expansion from ZTE GAMBIA: Gamtel seeks tariff hike GHANA: Vodafone acquires 70 percent stake in Ghana Telecom for USD 900 million Zain Ghana launches services ISRAEL: Internet Gold board authorises additional share buyback programme KENYA: Celtel introduces new offers for subscribers Safaricom appoints new CFO Safaricom ropes in Huawei for 3G equipment KUWAIT: Alternative BTS power rig tested Wataniya likely to list shares on Doha Stock Exchange Zain gets government approval for USD 4.5 billion capital hike MALI: Sotelma privatisation kicks off in Paris MOROCCO: Meditel to invest USD 577 million on service development MOZAMBIQUE: mCel to invest USD 70 million in infrastructural development in 2008 NIGER: African Development Bank to fund Orange’s expansion NIGERIA: Celtel to compensate subscribers for poor service quality by 15 August Mohamed Jameel appointed as new group COO for Glo Mobile Phase3 to invest USD 200 million in fibre-optic network OMAN: Government invites investors for acquisition of 25 percent stake in Omantel QATAR: Qtel introduces Late Talkers, Internet promotion SAUDI ARABIA: Mobily gains regulatory approval for Zajil acquisition Saudi Telecom launches new screening Service SOUTH AFRICA: Anil Ambani suggests alternate structure to acquire majority stake in MTN Deukom files lawsuit against ICASA over pay TV licence Huge Group opposes MTN’s offer to fully acquire i-Talk TUNISIA: Tunisia Telecom appoints new Director General TURKEY: Number portability systems deployed by Avea and Vodafone UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Etisalat collaborates with FT for multiple offerings TRA issues new directive for CPS availability ZIMBABWE: Mobile users burdened with further tariff hikes For Middle East news and business information resources click here.