Zain

Nigeria promises to be a telecoms powerhouse, but corruption and crime are stifling growth.

e-GO2GO service offers high speed connectivity to subscribers using a plug-and-play USB device

Phase one of new system will see changes made to landline and mobile numbers.

Bahrain is home to one of the region's most liberal telecom sectors, but challenges persist for the country's many operators.

Saudi Arabia will become part of Zain’s One Network from the start of operations.

While regional telecom operators continue to push into new markets in and around the region, there appears to be a growing disparity between the potential of markets in much of Middle East, and those in Africa and other emerging markets.

Rumours of takeover denied by company lead to short-lived surge.

Kuwaiti telecom eager to enter market as part of continued expansion across Africa.

Zain Kuwait is offering its subscribers a free anti-virus application to protect their mobile devices

WEFME: Kuwait-based telecom could also seal agreements in two more African countries, chief exec says.

Telecom operator Zain grows profits 10% year-on-year, hits 45.7 million active users

Zain to offer customers in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan and Sudan local service and rates across all four countries

New report on the world's most influential Arabs shows technology specialists in prime positions

Kingdom's third mobile operator will initially cover 53% of population with own nextwork.

Telecom will compete with Batelco and firm linked with Kuwait's Zain, magazine reports.

Nominations to NME Innovation Awards 2008 and other factors clearly show that end-users have the power to drive the IT market in the Middle East

After signing a landmark contract with Zain to roll out a mobile network in Saudi Arabia, Nokia Siemens Networks outlines its blueprint for expansion in the MENA region and beyond.

British telecoms group not in talks to buy 'significant or majority' stake in Kuwait operator, Zain says

Joint venture beats Ericsson and Huawei for contract to build wireless networks in kingdom.

Operator agrees with egional and international lenders to refinance existing debt for same amount.

Zain Jordan joins Tejari for online e-procurement services

Kuwaiti operator set to pursue growth strategy by buying assets in Middle East and Africa, analysts say.

Kuwaiti operator enters Iraqi market with acquisition of Iraqna

Purchase gives MTC Atheer Iraq customer base of more than seven million as Orascom exits country.

Kuwaiti telecom says wants to make acquisition in Europe as early as next year, may sell more shares soon.

Network upgrades and new licence agreements expected to fuel further growth, according to CEO, Saad Al Barrak

Kuwaiti telecom considering move among number of options to finance expansion.

There is seldom a quiet week in the MENA region's comms sector. In the past couple of weeks alone there have been some major announcements from regional telecom companies, mainly about foreign expansion, with some key deals announced.

Two of Middle East's heavyweight telcos are facing off in the battle to secure Qatar's second mobile licence.

Kuwait's largest publicly traded company urges exchange to retract latest investment rules.

Recent CommsMEA lifetime achievement winner Zain CEO Dr Saad Al Barrak on the firm's regional aspirations.

Operator Zain launches Wimax to give users wireless internet access anywhere.

A 26% stake in country's third mobile firm will go to highest offer in single bidding round.

Decision to move international operations HQ next year is a 'slap in the face' for Kuwait, says analyst.

Results of the auction for Qatar's second mobile phone licence are expected in four weeks.

Kuwaiti group buys more shares in telco through Al-Khair National for Stocks and Real Estate.

While the world's big telcos talk about emerging market opportunities, operators from ME are going global.

Kuwaiti telco signs two Islamic loans to help pay for licence it won to operate Saudi Arabian mobile network.

Kuwaiti telco expects income growth to slow to zero this year as it invests in regional expansion.

Company chief executive Saad Al Barrak picks up Lifetime Achievement award.

Kuwait's mobile telecom giant is planning to shift its headquarters to Bahrain, according to reports.

Deputy chairman quoted as saying Kuwait 'repels' investment, laws 'not good for financial hub'.

Communications minister says new licences will improve networks dramatically.

UPDATE 11am: Iraq sets $300mn as the starting price in today's auction of three 15-year mobile licences.

Motorola to help operator expand its HSDPA network, and deploy HSUPA technology in Kuwait.

Marwan Alahmadi is MTC Group's former chief strategy officer, who three months ago was appointed to head the company's foray into the rapidly evolving and fiercely competitive Saudi Arabian telecoms market. He will be required to balance his understanding of the strategic importance of the investment with the challenges present on the ground in Saudi Arabia, and it will be no easy task to make the huge upfront investment a success.

Bidding for a stake in country's planned third mobile phone operator has been extended by one month.

Newspaper says a Saudi investor is likely to take a stake of at least 10% in Kuwait's MTC.

Kuwaiti mobile firm will borrow from the IFC and other institutions to finance expansion in Africa.

The Kuwaiti telecoms giant has denied rumours it is to be the subject of a large European takeover bid.

Companies are invited to express interest in a 26% stake of the country's third mobile phone company.

12 firms have been named eligible to bid for the country's second mobile licence.

Group says any sale of MTC will be alongside other investors.

Stock exchange says probe into record trading volume found 'nothing against the law.'

Disagreement over pricing prompts postponement of deal by an unidentified Saudi investor.

The African telecoms market has been identified as a potential battleground for the next wave of market liberalisation in the wider region, incorporating the Middle East. A study by market analysts Booz Allen Hamilton examines the prospects.

Kuwait's telecoms giant has said it is interested in bidding for Qatar's second mobile phone licence.

MTC will use murabaha facility to expand Mobitel network across 80% of Sudan.

Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) last week completed its acquisition of African telecoms giant Celtel.

Decision on MTC probe is expected within 10 days.

Kuwaiti telecoms company reversed early losses today after reporting slow profit growth.

How Middle Eastern businesses are preparing their defences and securing company data against rising threats in the region.

Unusually active trading in the telecoms company has prompted an investigation.

The Kuwait stock exchange has halted trading in shares of Mobile Telecommunications pending clarification of a newspaper report.

Mobile Telecommunications Co. seeks a long-term mobile phone licence, says its MD.

Saudi Arabia's Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) has short-listed seven bidders for the next stage of the kingdom's process to award a third GSM licence.

The desert state of Namibia in East Africa has been one of the last countries in the region to open its telecoms market to competition. The arrival of Powercom is likely to help the national agenda in the effort to boost the population's access to ICT facilities by 2030.

The operator expects to launch in the kingdom early in 2008.

A number of high-profile government and business leaders gathered in Kuwait City on Monday for the inaugural Arabian Business Kuwaiti achievement awards.

Kuwait operator gears up for further expansion in Saudi Arabia.

Kuwait's MTC is favourite to secure the lucrative third mobile license in an upcoming auction.

Prince Alwaleed's Kingdom Holding is among those vying for a slice of the Gulf's largest telecom market.

Government hopes to net $7 billion from the sale of the country's two mobile phone companies.

The year ahead offers operators in the region opportunities for greenfield investment, though interested parties should be weary of the scarcity premium that many of the concessions are likely to attract. CommsMEA flags up a number of the significant licence awards in the region scheduled to take place over the next 12 months.

Kuwait’s MTC Group is said to be considering bidding for Pakistan cellco Paktel, a unit of Millicom International Cellular Company, writes Tawanda Chihota.

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Hill & Knowlton Middle East has been hired by global telephony operator MTC Group as part of a wide-ranging PR and communications push.

The Facility will be used for general corporate purposes including refinancing of the existing US $750 million signed on 18 December 2005.

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In the face of a volatile hard disk drive market, Quantum has signed up MTC in the hope of filling in any missing gaps in the region.