#Telecoms

e& allots $6bn to boost connectivity in 16 markets

UAE’s e& to invest $6bn to advance connectivity in 16 countries

The group is set to reinvest in building networks of the future to accelerate technology adoption and increase fibre penetration and fast mobile network speeds

solar energy

UAE’s e& secures Dhs366m loan for green projects

The loan will be used to finance or refinance eligible sustainable development projects covering a range of areas, including renewable energy

Saudi Arabia’s stc Group 9.9% Telefonica stake

stc Group sticks to plan for 9.9% Telefonica stake, sources say

The telecoms operator amassed a EUR2.1bn ($2.23bn) stake, consisting of 4.9 per cent of Telefonica’s shares and financial instruments in September

Mubadala invests in Aligned Data Centers Image Mubadala Aligned

Mubadala invests in US-based Aligned Data Centers

With this investment, Mubadala will become a minority partner alongside majority partners managed by Macquarie Asset Management

e-acquires majority-stake acqusiition-in-PPF Telecom -Image-e& Group

UAE’s e& eyes further expansion, acquires Czech PPF Group’s telecom assets

Once the transaction is closed, e& will fully consolidate the acquired assets under the e& international vertical

e& Group’s Q2 profit jumps 3.8% to $681m

e& Group’s Q2 profit jumps 3.8% to $681m on subscriber growth

The group has a record subscriber base of 165 million users as of June 30, the highest in the company’s history

Airalo secures $60m in Series B funding round led by e& Capital

Airalo raises $60m in Series B fundraising round led by e& Capital

The company is leveraging cutting-edge technology and a user-centric approach to empower travellers with seamless access to mobile networks

Ooredoo mulls tower assets merger with Zain and TASC

Qatar’s Ooredoo, Zain, TASC in talks to merge tower assets

The three entities are proceeding with negotiations with the aim to sign definitive agreements in Q3 2023

Zain HQ Building 2021

Zain Group creates global wholesale services JV with Omantel

The venture will manage all international wholesale requirements of Zain and Omantel operations in eight countries

e& AGM photo courtesy WAM

UAE’s e& approves cash dividends for H2 2022 at Dhs0.4 per share

According to the group, the total annual dividend per share stands at Dhs0.8

Careem

UAE telecoms giant e& Group acquires $400m stake in Careem Super App

The company plans to use the proceeds from the new investment to accelerate its ambitious vision to create the first ‘everything app’

UAE telecom firm e& pays $4.4bn for 9.8% of Vodafone

Vodafone oversees a sprawling portfolio across more than 20 countries serving over 300 million wireless customers

UAE’s e& builds on existing partnership with Microsoft

The collaboration includes a focus on business-to-business engagement across large enterprises, governments, and small and medium-sized businesses

Saudi wealth fund PIF raises $3.2bn from sale of STC stake

The Public Investment Fund offered 120 million shares in Saudi Telecom at SAR100 each

Etisalat

UAE-based Etisalat Group reports net profit of Dhs2.4bn, up 1% in Q3 2021

Its revenues reached Dhs13.3bn, an increase of 2 per cent year-on-year

EITC

UAE telco du net profit down 65.6% in Q3 2021

Its revenues grew 6.9 per cent year-on-year to Dhs2.874bn

Saudi internet-services firm sets IPO price at top end of range

Riyadh has been the hottest market for IPOs in the Middle East over the past two years

etisalat

UAE telco Etisalat’s mobile subscribers do not require data plans to access Al Hosn app

The Al Hosn app is now whitelisted, so any data consumed by both prepaid and postpaid customers while using it will not come off a mobile subscribers’ allowance

Etisalat appoints new CEO for UAE operations

Masood M Sharif Mahmood has been appointed to the newly created role

Etisalat

UAE telco Etisalat announces 6G plans

According to experts, 6G will bring about much faster data speed as well as lower latency and higher reliability than 5G

Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa

Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa to eliminate single-use plastics in SIMs and recharge cards

It is aiming for its operations to become carbon neutral by the end of 2021

Ooredoo Oman appoints its first female CEO

Noor Al Sulaiti, who will replace Ian Dench, previously led Ooredoo unit Starlink

Etisalat to support Abu Dhabi’s small and medium businesses’ in digital quest

The UAE’s SMB sector represents more than 94 percent of the total number of companies operating across the country

Dubai’s Emirates inks agreement with Huawei to strengthen relationship

The companies aim to build on their earlier agreement inked last year

Etisalat group

Etisalat Group reports Dhs2.3bn consolidated net profit for Q1 2021; up 7.9% y-on-y

Consolidated revenues amounted to Dhs13.2bn and consolidated EBITDA totalled Dhs6.8bn

Akshay Chopra, Vice-President, Head of Product Innovation and Design for CEMEA and Africa copy

How mobile network operators can drive the next wave of financial inclusion in MENA

Mobile network operators have direct access to a large customer base that includes the harder-to-reach segments of the underbanked and unbanked

Etisalat du credit score

Etisalat, du to rely more heavily on UAE credit rating score for new postpaid customers

With the addition of Etisalat and du’s data, AECB’s customer information database stands at 9 million individuals and 600,000 companies

Etisalat

UAE operator Etisalat reports Dhs9bn net profit in 2020; up 3.8% y-on-y

Its consolidated revenues reached Dhs51.7bn, a 0.9 per cent decrease over the previous year

Bahrain

Bahrain achieves nationwide 5G coverage

Bahrain ICT sector accounts for nearly 3% of national GDP

Ooredoo to deploy Ericsson 5G technology across its global network

Five-year agreement covers Ooredoo’s operating companies in 10 countries