MyAdhan Blog

Link: Dubai: No Salik fines until you get SMS alert

Motorists travelling through Salik gates without credit in their Salik cards will not be fined until they receive an SMS alert on their mobile phones.

Roads and Transport Authority CEO Maitha Bin Adai said motorists are not going to be fined if they are out of credit until they receive the SMS alert, and they can recharge their tags after receiving an SMS from the RTA.

Link: MTC report says mobile phones helped Lebanese cope with Israeli onslaught

BEIRUT: The parent company of one of Lebanon’s two cellular operators released a study on Monday demonstrating what it said were the benefits of mobile telephony during last summer’s war with Israel. Kuwait-based Mobile Telecommunications Co. (MTC), owner of Lebanon’s MTC Touch, released the report during a press conference in London. It said the study, which was conducted by research company Neilsen and consultancy Enlightenment Economics, underscored “the role that reliable and robust mobile communications now plays in crisis situations.”

Link: Uganda: Newspaper SMS Responses: Are the suspicions of corruption in Kampala City Council well-founded?

This is an interesting list of responses by SMS to a Ugandan newspaper about corruption in the Kampala City Council, Uganda.

Corruption in Uganda flows like blood in the veins, it is an instrument of power and domination. Even those who try to fight it are corrupt. We need prayers!
Faisal Musiho

It depends on what you call corruption. If it includes the giving of bribes in order for one to get services at th council, then I think you have hit the nail on the head.
Babra Atim

Turkey: Oger Telecom enjoys Turkish delight

Dubai-headquartered Oger Telecom’s investment in Turk Telecom appears to be paying off as subscriber numbers nearly doubled last year.

The telecom service provider reported strong growth for the Turkish telco operator in which it acquired a 55% stake at the end of 2005 and which it now refers to as its key asset.

Link: ITS launches operation of WARID Telecom Solutions in Bangladesh

International Turnkey Systems (ITS) has successfully completed the setup and operation of the Telecom systems for Warid Telecom, Bangladesh.

Link: Kuwait: Soft porn SMS Advertising on your mobile phones

A short text message sent to local mobile phone users offers what seems to be sexual services - or at least sex talk - over the phone. How did such a service get the numbers of people in Kuwait? What are telecom firms doing to block such unsavory advertisers? Dozens of people in Kuwait recently received this SMS message in Arabic: “Hi! I’m Muneera, call me and I will make you happy and satisfied.” This message was sent to subscribers of only one telecommunications provider in Kuwait. The messages came from another Arab country. Needless to say, the services ‘Muneera’ seems to be offering are illegal in Kuwait.

Link: 2Connect throws down gauntlet to Batelco

Bahraini alternative telco 2Connect held a press conference on Tuesday to publicise its planned nationwide launch of a free internet access service aimed at low-income residential users.

Link: Gulfcomms will provide “major opportunities” in middle east’s rapidly-developing telco sector

The second edition of the region’s largest telecommunications and networking exhibition GULFCOMMS is set to bring major operators and communications specialists to the Middle East in September, as more companies look to become part of the world’s fastest-growing telecommunications and networking sector.

GULFCOMMS is part of a powerful line-up of exhibitions taking place from September 8-12, 2007 during GITEX Technology Week, which builds upon the region’s largest technology exhibition by presenting a packed week of trade events dedicated to the Middle East’s booming ICT Sector.

Link: Pakistan: SingTel confirms to buy Warid stake for $758 million

KARACHI, June 28 (Reuters) - Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI: Quote, Profile, Research), Southeast Asia’s leading telecoms group, said on Thursday it had agreed to buy a 30 percent stake in Warid Telecom, Pakistan’s No.3 mobile operator, for $758 million.

SingTel, expanding into rapidly growing mobile markets outside its saturated home base, has often said it is interested in Pakistan, where Warid has nearly 10 million subscribers.

The deal gives Warid, which is owned by the private Abu Dhabi Group, an enterprise value of $2.9 billion, SingTel said in a statement late on Thursday. A source in the Pakistani company had said earlier that SingTel was set to buy the stake.