Rift with Iranian partner behind licence loss - Etisalat

TELECOM DREAMS: Etisalat still has its sights set on Iran. (Getty Images)

The Iranian regulator did not strip Etisalat of the country’s third mobile licence , but disagreement with its local partner may have cost the company the licence, the chairman of Etisalat told Arabian Business on Friday.

The local partner that controls the consortium that was awarded the licence wanted to change the terms of the deal, which put it at odds with the Iranian regulator, Mohammed Omran said on Friday in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Jordan.

The company was stripped of Iran’s third mobile licence this week after the country’s telecom regulator said it had failed to “fulfill its obligations”.

In January a consortium made up of Etisalat and Iran’s Tamin Telecom won the license, which has now been awarded to a consortium led by Kuwait’s Zain.

However, Omran told Arabian Business that Etisalat is still in talks with the regulator, but that it would not be working with its previous partner.

It would take some time for the issue to be resolved, he added.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Etisalat
Posted by macca on Sunday 17 May 2009 at 13:19 UAE time

Yes Said you are absolutely right. You confirm what everyone long feared and suspected about the great land given, and built by others. If we don't like it, then we know what we can do. Well thats just what we are doing, goodbye, enjoy the sand the half finished buildings.

Worst telecommunication company
Posted by Abdul, dubai, uae on Sunday 17 May 2009 at 11:11 UAE time


As an Emirati, I'm not proud of Etitsalat. Their charges are way to much, their service is awful and they are non existent in customer service. This country needs some real telecommunication competition, and if that happens Etisalat will go into extinction. To get a shamil connection its takes nearly a month and staff are very unhelful when contacted. I think TRA needs to get their and Etisalat's act together and change with the times, otherwise their service here will have a negative impact on their bidding overseas.

Emiratization = Etisalat = Emiratization
Posted by Said Abdul Al-Baqi, Dubai, UAE on Saturday 16 May 2009 at 18:25 UAE time


Less what? What was that again? Less Emiratization??? So sorry to disappoint you but soon most jobs will be for the nationals of the UAE. We fervently pray that your respective governments can provide you security, growth and development the way this nation provides its nationals. This is how the UAE is, this is how Etisalat is, this is how Du is, if you like it, then enjoy your temporary stay in this great land otherwise you can easily find your way to the several airports of this great land.

Kudos to Hamdan for his candid feedback
Posted by SN on Saturday 16 May 2009 at 15:56 UAE time


I am more than 100% in agreement with Hamdan and his accurate description of Etisalat and how they should be dealt with. Why should Etisalat get a favourable treatment every where, when it doesn't care for its home subsriber. In UAE, their service is awful, charges are exhorbitant and customer service is virtually non-existing. Come on Etisalat you need to earn the respect by doing good work at home first.

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