France Telecom to Buy New National Optical Fibre Network
ComputerWeekly.com
France Telecom/Orange is to spend €2bn on a new optical fibre network that will cover 40% of French homes by 2012, and every French dèpartement by 2015. The network would help Orange to address customers’ expectations of “irreproachable service quality, customised billing plans and security of personal data”, said CEO Stéphane Richard.
Topics: Middle East [...]
Lebanon Telco Firm Says Employee Held In Spy Case
Reuters Africa
Lebanese state-owned mobile phone firm Alfa confirmed Wednesday an employee had been detained by the army on suspicion of spying for Israel, a case Hezbollah said showed the country’s security was under threat.
Topics: telecom, Egypt, Middle East News, Lebanon, Israel, Orascom, Africa, Middle East
France Telecom Weighing Four or Five Africa, Middle East Deals
BusinessWeek
France Telecom SA is studying four or five acquisitions in Africa and the Middle East, and may complete some deals this summer. The company is identifying targets close to its existing assets, Marc Rennard, executive director for Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, said in an interview in Paris. The company isn’t averse to initially [...]
Algeria Is Willing to Meet Orascom, Minister Says
BusinessWeek
Algeria’s government is willing to meet Orascom Telecom Holding SAE Chairman Naguib Sawiris to discuss the fate of the company’s local unit whose planned sale the North African country opposes.
Topics: Orascom, Egypt, Burundi, Middle East, Pakistan, telecoms, Algeria, Middle East News, telecom, Africa
Algeria Opposes MTN-Orascom Deal
Wall Street Journal
Algeria’s government is opposing a deal under which South Africa’s MTN Group Ltd. would acquire the prized Algerian unit of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom, the Telecommunications Ministry said Wednesday.
Topics: countries, Egypt, telecom, Algeria, Middle East, Africa, India, Orascom, Middle East News
Orascom Telecom Says Algeria Stops Profit Transfer
BusinessWeek
Orascom Telecom Holding SAE, the Middle East’s largest mobile-phone company, has been blocked from moving its Algerian division’s profit out of the country, Chairman Naguib Sawiris said.
Topics: Middle East News, Middle East, Algeria, Orascom, phone, telecom, phone company, Africa
Orascom Denies Speculation Over Sale of Algerian Unit
BusinessWeek
Orascom Telecom Holding SAE, the biggest mobile phone operator in the Middle East, denied speculation that it will sell its Algerian unit, Maged Shawky, chairman of the Egyptian Exchange, told Al-Arabiya television.
Topics: Algeria, Orascom, phone, Middle East News, Africa, Middle East, telecom, Egypt, Du
Orascom Refutes Algeria Tax Claims
Reuters South Africa
Egypt’s Orascom Telecom said on Monday it had appealed to Algeria’s administrative court to cancel a claim it owes Algeria back taxes for 2004-2007.
Topics: ISP, Egypt, Africa, telecom, taxes, Middle East, Middle East News, Algeria, Orascom, Cairo
Zain to Dig Deeper Into Middle East After $9 Billion Bharti Deal
Economic Times
Kuwaiti telecom firm Zain is likely to dig deeper into the Middle East countries where it is already present rather than acquire elsewhere as it prepares to pocket $9 billion by selling its African assets. Zain has left investors guessing how it will spend proceeds from the deal with Bharti Airtel, which it says [...]
Orascom Loses $46.4 Million
Reuters South Africa
Egypt’s Orascom Telecom posted a fourth quarter net loss of $46.4 million, the company said Monday, citing rioting and hostility in Algeria, one of its main markets, for the sharp decline.
Topics: Middle East, Egypt, Middle East News, cellular, Orascom, Africa, Cairo, Algeria, telecom
Egypt’s Orascom Telecom Loses Algeria Tax Appeal
BusinessWeek
Egyptian mobile phone giant Orascom Telecom says Algerian authorities have rejected its initial appeal of a $597 million tax bill levied against its subsidiary in that North African nation. In a statement issued Sunday evening, Orascom, which operates Mobinil, Egypt’s largest mobile phone service provider by subscribers, said it paid the required 20 percent of [...]
Algerian Pressure May Cut Orascom Unit’s Value
Reuters South Africa
Egypt’s Orascom Telecom could secure $6-7 billion if it chooses to sell its Algerian unit Djezzy, but might have to accept much less if forced out by the government, analysts say.
Topics: Egypt, Cairo, Middle East News, telecom, Orascom, Africa, Etisalat, Middle East, Algeria
Court Blocks France Telecom’s Plan to Control ECMS
Financial Times
France Telecom’s hopes of taking full control of ECMS were dashed yesterday when an Egyptian court blocked its offer for minority stakes in the Egyptian mobile operator. The Cairo court placed an injunction on the French group’s €1.5bn bid for outstanding stakes in ECMS, due to expire today after concluding that the price was [...]
Mobinil Denies Being Late on 3G Payment
Reuters South Africa
Egyptian mobile operator Mobinil said on Tuesday it was not late paying a January instalment for its 3G licence, denying a newspaper report published this month. Al Borsa newspaper said on Sunday that Mobinil had fallen behind on the 750 million Egyptian pound January instalment. Kabbani denied this.
Topics: Africa, telecommunications, Middle East [...]
Orascom, France Telecom to Meet Over Mobinil
Reuters UK
Executives of Egypt’s Orascom Telecom (ORTE.CA) will meet this week with counterparts from France Telecom (FTE.PA) to discuss the Mobinil (EMOB.CA) ownership row, Orascom said on Tuesday.
Topics: Middle East, ISP, telecommunications, Orascom, Middle East News, France Telecom, Egypt, Du, Cairo, telecom
