MyAdhan Blog

Link: Pakistan: Nokia opens customer care centre

Nokia has launched its first-ever Nokia customer care centre here in the provincial metropolis and also announced that two more customer care centres would be opened in Karachi and Islamabad within next three months. Imran Khalid Mahmood, Country General Manager Nokia, Pakistan and Afghanistan at a press briefing on Friday made this announcement and said that Nokia customer care centre in Pakistan is not only a company’s first-ever customer care centre in the country but also in the Middle East and in Africa. He said that Nokia in persuasion of its policy to facilitate its customers took this initiative and would help in establishing good liaison with its customers. The company management told the media men that Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging internet and communications industries, also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Link: PTCL “Pakistan Package” brings in Rs 3.42 billion revenue

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) has wrung around Rs 3.42 billion by imposing its ‘Pakistan Package’ on all its landline telephone subscribers from December 2007, The PTCL revenue data revealed. The data exclusively available with The Nation shows that almost Rs 958 million was being extracted monthly from the pockets of about 5.8 million landline users without their consent. The data explained the PTCL landline users paid Rs 0.48 billion additional central excise duty (VAT Mode), which was increased correspondingly on each bill. ‘Pakistan Package’ scheme which is providing inter-city phone call facility for 5,000/500 minutes within Rs 199 has caught many people unaware because of their innocence. PTCL activated this package at its own and started charging from subscribers with effect from December 1, 2007 without their consent and thus earned billions of rupees. The data shows that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been made a laughing stock by the company as it hardly left any subscriber, which the authority had directed not to charge Rs 199 from the subscribers who were unable to opt for the package and have NWD bill less than Rs 200 in a month. The revenue data clearly exposed that the PTCL did not follow the PTA directions and kept on charging from the subscribers. On the other hand, the PTCL sources admitted that scores of customers could not make difference between bold lettering “All calls free” and minutely inscribed lettering “from one city to another” on bills. They said that after the introduction of the ‘Pakistan Package’ all landlines have inter-city calling facility, whether they needed it or not, however, the calls from the users phones were no more restricted to city they were living in after the introduction of the package. The data shows that the bill for December for which last date for payment was January 28 had come as a surprise to a large number of people, who even did not know about the scheme and made payment of Rs. 960 million. However, the February data shows a dip of 3.72 percent. The sources confirmed that after running from pillar to post for the explanation of this unforeseen charge under the heading of ‘Pakistan Package’ around 3.72 percent subscribers were ‘set free out of the package which showed the decline in revenue’. The noticeable thing is that despite the facility of 5,000 or 500 minutes in Rs 199, bills for the month of December, to be paid in January, have shown separate ‘local call charges’. There was, however, no explanation if all 5,000 to 500 minutes available in Rs 199 have been consumed as the ‘local call charges’ which were in addition to that facility charges. Sources confirmed that the PTCL help-line created for the convenience of its customers stayed busy almost all the time even to date following the heavy traffic. The sources said that the PTCL landline users’ queue outside the PTCL offices for deletion of ‘Pakistan Package’ charges of Rs 199 from their bills had proved failure of the scheme, however, the revenue took a steep rise and stayed at the same level from January to March 2008. Commenting on the growth in revenue and inconvenience owing the ‘Pakistan package’, PTCL spokesman Jawad Hussain showed his complete ignorance in revenue generation, however he said that the package was received the vide acceptance. He said that the popularity was growing by each passing day among the subscribers as they were getting practical awareness regarding the package. The spokesman, however, flatly denied of any inconvenience being faced by the subscribers who wanted to discontinue the package enforced on them.

Link: UAE’s Etisalat posts record Q1 profit

Emirates Telecommunications Corp ETEL.AD (Etisalat), the largest Arab telecom firm by market value, posted record profit in the first quarter after adding more mobile phone users in the United Arab Emirates. Net income in the three months to March 31 rose 15.5 percent to 2.12 billion dirhams ($577.3 million), or 0.35 dirhams per share, compared with 1.84 billion dirhams, or 0.31 dirhams per share, in the year-earlier period, the state-controlled company said in a statement on the Abu Dhabi bourse website. The number of mobile phone users in the UAE, the second-largest Arab economy, rose 4 percent to 6.63 million, compared with three months earlier, Etisalat said, without giving a year-earlier comparison. Chief Executive Officer Mohammed al-Qamzi told Reuters the company was adding about 1 million mobile phone users per year in the UAE, and expected foreign operations to contribute more to profit this year as the UAE home market matures. “Foreign countries will contribute more this year,” Qamzi said. “Saudi Arabia will lead.” Full-year profit growth will exceed the 15 percent in the first quarter, Qamzi said. Etisalat said this week it sold 43.75 million shares in Saudi affiliate Etihad Etisalat 7020.SE (Mobily), generating returns of 2.33 billion dirhams ($634.3 million) that would be counted in the second quarter. The sale cut its stake in the second of Saudi Arabia’s two mobile phone operators to 26.3 percent from 35 percent. Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter whose economy is growing on a near six-fold increase in oil prices during the last six years that has filled government coffers and boosted spending.

Link: Pakistan: 3G licence to be issued this year

Another Link: Pakistan Planning 3g Spectrum Auction

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Shazada Alam Malik has said that the process of issuing the 3G spectrum licence will be completed this year. He was speaking in a 3G Spectrum seminar organised by the PTA, a press release said. He further said that reservations of cellular companies will also be considered. Mobilink, Warid, Telenor, Instaphone, CM Pak, vendors of technology and telecom equipment participated in the seminar. He said that Pakistan is far behind from other countries in terms of 3G Spectrum and the Authority would issue the 3G Spectrum licence through bidding. He added that vendor companies are in favour of the 3G Spectrum while cellular operators demand a delay of two years. However, keeping in view the demand of cellular companies, the Authority has delayed the issuance by a year, and will complete the issue by the end of 2008. This process will start within four to five months. He further noted that the 3G Spectrum license cannot be issued on a subsidised price, however licenses cost will not be extra ordinary high.

Link: Malaysia: U Mobile expects good response to 3G post-paid service

Third generation (3G) service provider U Mobile Sdn Bhd expects strong take-up for its newest post-paid offering dubbed the U38 Plan. Chief executive officer Yun Hae Jong said the RM38 per month post-paid plan would attract 3G users due to its pricing, believed to be the lowest commitment fee plan in the market at present. “The U38 Plan is aimed at new 3G users who want an uncomplicated, affordable performance-driven post-paid plan with all the essentials thrown in,” Yun said after the launch of the new package yesterday. He said typical users of the U38 Plan would be highly mobile individuals who were discovering growing dependency on a mobile service with a primary broadband functionality. “That is why we’ve bundled our high-speed mobile Internet service together with this innovative plan,” Yun said, adding that the company planned to introduce its pre-paid service in June. The company would aggressively expand its network coverage over the next few years, he said, adding that the capital expenditure for the network expansion activities would be “several hundred million US dollars.” Key features of the U38 Plan include video calls at the same rate as voice calls, no contractual period and free U Mobile broadband for two months. The new plan will be available via the company’s flagship store at Berjaya Times Square and selected mobile phone dealers and distributors throughout the Klang Valley starting Friday. Meanwhile, U Mobile deputy chairman Datuk Rosman Ridzwan said the joint 33% acquisition by Japan’s NTT DoCoMo and South Korea’s KT Freetel (KTF) in the company for US$200mil had been completed. “Now, in addition to the pool of dedicated local talents driving the company forward, we have a team of equally energetic and capable talents from DoCoMo and KTF,” he said, adding that 2008 would be an important year for the company as it was now well positioned to introduce innovative products and services for the Malaysian market.

Link: UAE: Etisalat makes $634m from Saudi Mobily sale

Etisalat said on Tuesday it sold 43.75 million shares in Saudi affiliate Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), generating returns of 2.33 billion dirhams ($634.3 million). Profit from the sale will be counted in the company’s second-quarter earnings, it said in a statement on the Abu Dhabi bourse website. The company sold the shares at 55 riyals each ($14.67), or a total 2.41 billion riyals, it said. Etisalat said last week it sold a stake in Mobily, as required by its licence. It did not give details at the time. Etisalat’s holding in the firm is now 26.25 percent, compared with 35 percent, it said then. Six Saudi institutional investors, including state-run Public Pension Agency and General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI), have held 45 percent of the Mobily’s shares. Mobily, one of two mobile telephone service providers operating in a country of 24 million people, started operations in mid-2005. It has since claimed a 40 percent market share. Its 2007 profit almost doubled to 1.38 billion riyals on a 44.3 percent increase in sales to 8.44 billion riyals. Mobily and its rival Saudi Telecom Co will face more competition this year when a group led by Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Co (Zain) starts operating a third mobile network in the kingdom.

Link: Vodafone Egypt chooses Buongiorno for ads

Buongiorno is to power a mobile advertising programme for Vodafone Egypt. The Marketing Services division of the Italian content giant will provide Voda Egypt with the full solution including its proprietary Ad Serving Platform, business consultancy, advertising sales support, campaign management and media planning for the participating brands. Confirmed advertisers include BMW, P&G, Pepsi, Hyundai among others on multiple channels including MMS, WAP Banner, SMS and Interactive Voice Response. Alvise Zanardi, MD of Buongiorno Marketing Services, said: “We are witnessing an acceleration in requests from carriers in Europe and the Mediterranean region for solutions to manage fully, seamlessly and easily their advertising proposition to the marketplace. Our strong partnerships and integration with over 100 carriers globally make us the natural choice to help them achieve this goal”.

Link: Turkcell to bid for Belarus mobile operator

Turkey’s leading mobile phone operator Turkcell TCELL.IS said on Friday it has decided to bid for state-owned Belarussian mobile operator BeST as it seeks to expand its reach in the region. “Our company has decided to begin works to make a bid to shareholders to buy a majority stake in Belarussian Telecommunication Network (BeST),” Turkcell said in a statement. Last year Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said the government was ready to cede control of BeST for around $500 million. In October, Belarus agreed to sell control of the country’s No. 2 mobile phone operator MDC, operating under the Velcom brand, to Telekom Austria for $1 billion. Turkcell’s major shareholders are Nordic telecommunications company TeliaSonera AB (TLSN.ST: Quote, Profile, Research), Russian private equity firm Altimo and unlisted Turkish conglomerate Cukurova. Turkcell already has interests in mobile phone operations in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Georgia and has repeatedly said it wants to expand in the regions around Turkey.

Link: Wadja.com Launches Reply to SMS Features to Further Enhance its Integrated Social Messaging Platform

In an effort to continue to provide a complete circle of communication between friends, Wadja.com (http://www.wadja.com) launches SMS reply features to all texts leaving the service. In an effort to continue to provide a complete circle of communication between friends, Wadja.com (http://www.wadja.com) launches SMS reply features to all texts leaving the service. This will undoubtedly provide mobile operators with additional revenue from the termination of SMS messages into their network, while giving Wadja users the flexibility to receive replies to their mobile phones, when sending from the Wadja SMS service. Wadja users communicate with the world by sending thousands of SMS every day. Now, the Wadja Reply-to-SMS service gives them the capability to get replies from their friends on their mobile. In detail, Wadja users have the choice to have their mobile phone number displayed on the sender’s field of their text message, enabling the recipient of a Wadja SMS to reply directly to that number. Wadja’s Social Messaging platform continues to abolish barriers, making communication even smoother and seamless. Social messaging is travelling outside “walled gardens”, from mobile to mobile, providing more for the users and the mobile community. Users can access Wadja’s Social Messaging service from any part of the world using any handset equipped with a mobile web browser and mobile internet connection, now an industry standard found on all devices, from Nokias to Blackberries and iPhones. So as to have a truly open communication tool from any device, anywhere you may be.

Link: Bangladesh to Allow Mobile Networks in Hill Region

Mobile phone services have been in operation in Bangladesh since the early 1990s, except in the three hill districts where a 25-year tribal insurgency ended in 1997. Bangladesh’s army-backed interim government said on Thursday it would allow mobile phone networks to operate in the south-eastern hill districts, which had been barred for security concerns. “We have decided to allow cellphone operation in Chittagong Hill Tracts,” head of the government Fakhruddin Ahmed said during a visit to the region. Mobile phone services have been in operation in Bangladesh since the early 1990s, except in the three hill districts where a 25-year tribal insurgency ended in 1997 when a peace deal was signed. Some rebel groups remain at large, and often clash with troops in the 5,500 sq-miles (14,200 sq-km) area bordering India and Myanmar, but peace has largely returned to the area. Fakhruddin said initially the three municipalities of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts would be brought into the country’s mobile phone network. The country has six cellphone providers with more than 38 million subscribers. Although nearly half of Bangladesh’s over 140 million people still live on less than a dollar a day, the country has one of Asia’s fastest growing cellular markets.