Etisalat And Telefoacute;nica On A Broad-Based Cooperation

Etisalat and Telefónica, two leading telecom operators worldwide, today jointly announced that they have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement to enter into a broad-based cooperation. The partnership will allow both Groups to collaborate on a range of strategic areas given their capabilities and expertise. As a result, the companies will strengthen their capabilities to address global industry trends and compete in each of their markets, capturing efficiencies and advancing initiatives aimed at better serving their customers needs across their respective footprints.

Under the terms of this Agreement, the two parties will establish mechanisms to enable them draw on each other’s experience in various strategic areas, including collaboration on technological standardization, new global technology initiatives, R&D, and new emerging products and services designed to capture the digital growth opportunities such as M2M, financial services or cloud-based services.

Both companies have also agreed to jointly work on procurement, international capacity and wholesale services as well as offering enhanced support for multinational customers of each operator taking advantage of the benefits of the Telefónica Partners Program.

The Partnership Agreement is of immediate effect and will enable both companies to improve efficiency, drive innovation and generate savings. The agreement is expected to reinforce each company’s leadership in their markets, and provide a stronger basis to compete globally in the changing telecommunications industry.

Furthermore, the two Groups do not compete in any of their operational markets and these benefits will be offered to most of their subsidiaries and associates over the course of the agreement. Etisalat Group today is represented in 18 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, whilst Telefónica’s footprint has been established in 25 markets in Europe and Latin America.

About Etisalat
An uncompromising commitment to excellence and innovation has seen Etisalat become one of the world’s fastest-growing telecom groups, rapidly expanding across Asia and Africa. ts UAE operations, strategically located at the crossroads of East and West enables Etisalat to be the major hub in the Middle East for Internet, voice, broadcast, roaming and corporate data services. Its stellar performance has won Etisalat recognition as ‘Best Operator’ ten times since 2006 and ‘Best Wholesale Provider’ four times in the last three years. Servicing over 135 million customers in 18 countries Etisalat continues to reach out to new customers and markets.

About Telefónica
Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.

The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts to 290.5 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy. Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.

For more information on the Etisalat Group, please contact
Ms. Nahid M. Hassan
Etisalat Group Senior Manager Media Relations
E: nahelsayed@etisalat.ae
T: 0097126172187
M.0506006556 

Etisalat Conducts Technology Strategy: The Way Forward Seminar For Employees

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Etisalat held a seminar for employees entitled "The Way forward in Technology Strategy". The seminar was attended by 150 employees – middle management level and above – from offices across the UAE.

The seminar addressed issues relating to market trends and challenges, Etisalat’s strategic objectives and human capital as a key focus area in staying ahead of the technology curve. The sessions were delivered by Mr. Marwan Zawaydeh, Chief Technology and Information Officer, and Mr. Faiez Awadh, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Etisalat.

Mr. Zawaydeh shared insights about industry trends and challenges faced by telecommunications companies, and went into detail about Etisalat’s strategic objectives in the technology strategy landscape.

"To stay competitive in today’s environment, Telecom operators around the world need to stay agile and efficient, while at the same time providing a memorable and positive customer experience. Technology Strategy plays an important role in enabling this experience", said Mr. Marwan Zawaydeh.

Mr. Faiez Awadh enlightened the employees on Human Resources’ strategies to face the challenges the telecom industry is witnessing with changes in technology and focus on customer experience, and how Human Capital is essential to achieving strategic objectives of the business in the telecommunications environment.

"Human capital is crucial for the development and implementation of any technology. By making sure our teams are well trained and updated, we can guarantee the best utilisation of our technology. This seminar goes hand in hand with achieving this goal," Mr. Awadh concluded.

Modeled as a town hall type of gathering, the seminar concluded with an interactive discussion on the topics and a questions and answers session for all participants.

Etisalat And LG Enter Into Major Strategic Alliance With Etisalats eLife Services Being Featured On LG Smart TV

Etisalat and LG, top leaders in their respective industries, today entered a unique partnership that will see Etisalat’s broadband services and content delivered through LG’s new range of Smart TVs. The first completed effort of the alliance is the launch of Etisalat’s “OnDemand”, the region’s first managed IPTV Video On-Demand Service without Set-Top-Box and “OnWeb”, the new web-based video service that will be available to Etisalat’s fiber-connected residential customers on all of LG’s Smart TVs.

The agreement was signed at a press conference held in Dubai, revealed a close collaboration between the two corporations that will bring unprecedented range of benefits to their shared customer base. LG has developed broadband-connected TVs that are designed to deliver Internet-based content, mostly video, from popular or social websites, in addition to content from broadcast TV providers. The connected feature in LG’s Smart TV is supported by a technology that is integrated Set-Top-Box to the TV sets. Well on its way to fiber-connect the entire UAE in 2012, Etisalat recently completed the fiber deployment in Abu Dhabi, making it the world’s first Capital city in the world to be fiber-connected. Owing to super high speeds provided on the fiber-connections, customers will be able to enjoy exceptional quality with Etisalat’s new OnWeb video services.

eLife, Etisalat’s flagship range of fiber-based services, will have “OnWeb” service directly available through LG Smart TVs that customers purchase in UAE. OnWeb appears as a remote control-accessible menu item on the homepage of all LG Smart TVs. As compared to the traditional consumption of content on TV, customers will be thrilled with the experience and ease of finding and watching unique web-based video services on their TV.

The Smart TVs are enabled with UGC (User Generated Contents), SNS (Social Networking Service), Photo Sharing Service, Weather forecasts and other useful applications from LG or Etisalat. Customers subscribed to Etisalat’s eLife services can also access its new ‘Video on Demand’ service that is available on request. In addition to the free-of-charge OnWeb service package, customers will enjoy the option of purchasing exclusive content that will be offered on demand.

Commenting on the partnership and launch of eLife’s OnWeb service, Matthew Willsher, Chief Marketing Officer at Etisalat said: “Etisalat continuously strives to leverage technology in order to provide a distinctive experience to its customers. We are very excited to be teaming up with LG to provide our customers with advanced services via a Smart TV. We believe that this partnership and OnWeb service will create a new channel for providing our broadband customers with video content and Apps.”

Willsher added, “OnWeb services will facilitate the opening of new business avenues for content producers and broadcasters by creating unique ways that their content is presented to customers. This service will also allow us to cater for our diverse range of customers and provide them the best of what they want to watch.”

Etisalat’s specialized “Digital Media Services” unit is committed to supporting content producers and broadcasters in making their content available to Etisalat’s customers via the OnWeb service offering on the LG Smart TVs. Willsher added, “We have actively invested in efficient back-end systems to support the OnWeb offering and provide customers who use LG Smart TV’s with a wide variety of content from our partners.”

Commenting on the partnership with Etisalat, Mr. K.W. Kim, President of LG Electronics Middle East and Africa Region said: “This strategic partnership between LG Electronics and Etisalat highlights the importance of cooperation in bringing technology and content together to provide users with a superior experience, while reducing the complexity and associated cost. By combining our technology with Etisalat’s eLife OnWeb & eLife OnDemand service offering, we now open up a whole new world of superior entertainment for consumers, as we redefine the very notion of TV entertainment.”

LG’s Smart TV function provides customers with simple control of their home entertainment experience. The unique platform provides access to thousands of movies, customizable apps, videos and the ability to browse the Web through an easy navigating user interface and mouse-like point and click remote system, giving the user an experience that is easy, fun and unlimited premium content.

“A simple dashboard is the gateway to the LG Smart TV experience. With just four main sections – Live TV, Premium Content, TV Apps and Launch Bar – viewers are never more than a few clicks away from a vast variety of content” added Mr. Kim

The LG is targeting and developing more than 550 applications for LG App store until the first half year of 2011. The platform includes a Web browser so users no longer need to turn on their laptop to access the internet. LG’s Smart Share function allows users to wirelessly stream content from their PCs and other compatible devices for viewing on their television screen. Smart Share also includes Media Link, which provides additional information, such as cover art or liner notes, for content being streamed.
 

Etisalat Launches The UAEs First Personalised Mobile Advertising Service

Etisalat and Alcatel-Lucent today launched the UAE’s first permission and preference-based mobile advertising services in the UAE. The opt-in mobile advertising service provides a very smart and unique advertising model that will allow advertisers and brands to have an engaging dialogue with their target audience via Rich SMS/MMS Dialogue Ads. Moreover, it gives mobile customers access to a wide range of exclusive and relevant offers from leading brands in the UAE that is tailored to their personal interests and lifestyles.

The service will match customer’s voluntary preferences and deliver exclusive promotions and discounts accordingly. As such customers interested in sports, will get the latest on offers and promotions from sporting brands. The mobile advertising platform from Alcatel-Lucent Optism is also a monitoring tool for customers’ behaviors against the ads and promotions that they receive in a way that detects their registered interests and their interaction levels with the received offers. This type of intelligence, behavior monitoring and updating will get advertisers and brands to customize their offers to best suit their targeted audience and for customers to receive the best defined promotions that fit their likings.

The new service will give the entire mobile advertising ecosystem in the UAE exactly what they need; targeted ads, personalized ads, engaging ads and most of all very well defined tailored ads that will increase their sales, enhance their ROI, enable them for more intelligent campaign planning and provide them with real time reporting. At the same time it will increase targeted audience satisfaction as customers will receive offers that are tightly linked to their lifestyles and tastes.

Matthew Willsher, Chief Marketing Officer of Etisalat commented: “There is a new wave of demand for deals, discounts and offers in the UAE. As part of our mobile strategy, we are constantly innovating to delight our customers. The UAE’s first mobile advertising service ensures that customers who choose to receive targeted messages get better value as well as a richer mobile experience.”

Amr El-Leithy, Head of Alcatel-Lucent business in the Middle East & Africa. “We are very enthusiastic about working with Etisalat to bring a more personalized and compelling experience to their customers.”

All mobile advertising with Etisalat is "opt-in" for customers, giving subscribers the freedom to choose. It ensures privacy of customer’s information and contact details through Etisalat’s ‘Personal Information Identifiers’ system. Maha Muraish, Director of Online Channel and Portal at Etisalat added, “It’s not about spamming our customers with numerous ads; it’s about providing preference-based content. You will only receive offers from Etisalat that is relevant to you, at the time of day that suits you best and not more than 5 ads a week”.

To sign up for this service, customers need only send an SMS – ‘JOIN’ to short code ‘1551’ and respond to an invitation message from Etisalat with their age, gender and interests. They can also choose to pause and resume or completely stop the service by using appropriate commands. The service is for free and customers who register for the service do not pay for any advertising messages that they receive or respond to.

Ads received from Etisalat will use short codes 1551, 1552, 1553, 1554 or 1555. From time to time, customers will receive Etisalat’s ‘housekeeping’ messages to keep updated on profile and preferences, in order to understand and send tailor-made offers as per their interests.

For more information on the service, customers can visit www.ads.etisalat.ae or call 101.
 

Etisalat Updates Investors On Its Proposal To Acquire Shares In Zain

Etisalat said it is making good progress on its proposal to acquire 51 per cent of the total issued share capital and voting rights (excluding shares held in treasury but including all shares which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of any options) in Mobile Telecommunications Company LLC ("Zain") ("Proposed Transaction").

It added in a statement that Etisalat’s due diligence effort has recently accelerated, and Etisalat values the continuous and positive cooperation of Zain. In addition, Etisalat’s discussions with eighteen international and regional banks regarding the financing required to complete the Proposed Transaction continue, and it remains highly confident that it will be able to secure the necessary financing.

"Etisalat is delighted with the recent progress in the due diligence process and wishes to reach a final agreement as soon as practically possible" Etisalat Chairman Mohammed Omran said.

The final progress and the results on the Proposed Transaction are to be presented after the due diligence completion review to Etisalat Board of Directors by the end of February 2011. Etisalat will keep its stakeholders posted about the progress.

 

Etisalat Infrastructure Investments Will Ensure Highest Quality And Experience In UAE And Abroad

The Etisalat Group is placing the customer experience at the forefront of its technology investment strategy as it deploys the most modern, next-generation mobile and fixed-line infrastructure across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This commitment was highlighted by the Etisalat Group’s Senior Vice President for Technology and Network Strategy, Khalifa Al Shamsi, who addressed the South Asia, Middle East and North Africa (SAMENA) Telecommunications Council at its ‘Beyond Connectivity’ summit in Abu Dhabi.

Khalifa Al Shamsi, Group Senior Vice President for Technology and Network Strategy at Etisalat said: “The growth in Internet traffic in our region is staggering and only through a concerted and farsighted strategy will regional operators keep up with demand. Etisalat is a long-term investor and is committed to ensuring that its operations provide the highest quality of service for all of its customers. This is why we are deploying fiber optic networks, high capacity intercontinental cable systems and the fastest mobile broadband services to ensure that our customers continue to be delighted.”

Etisalat’s technology strategist went on to describe the investments that Etisalat has made across its regional footprint, including the deployment of over 2 million kilometers of fiber optic cable in the UAE and the imminent launch of the UAE’s fastest mobile broadband service via LTE – the fourth generation mobile broadband technology. The Etisalat Group is also investing in LTE in Saudi Arabia and has an existing 3G network based on HSPDA which allows speeds of up to 42Mbps in Egypt. It plans to deploy 3G in Nigeria and Sri Lanka in 2011, whilst its terrestrial fiber networks can be found across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Etisalat’s Smart Hub located in the UAE is connected to the major intercontinental cable routes passing through the Gulf to Europe, Africa and Asia. This provides robust, high speed international connectivity for both the Etisalat Group and other international operators.

Al Shamsi continued: “Technological advancement and innovative Internet services have empowered individuals, companies and governments to reach new heights in performance. It is therefore our responsibility, and the responsibility of our ecosystem partners, to ensure that we work together to ensure that the Internet of the future continues to enable the innovation and entrepreneurism that has shaped the world we live in today. We invite all of our ecosystem partners to join with us on this journey and work to develop our sector for the benefit of all, and in particular our customers.”

The SAMENA Telecoms Council was established in 2006 and today represents operators from across South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa from its headquarters in Dubai. It frequently organizes industry gatherings to debate the latest trends in the telecommunications industry and these are attended by representatives from infrastructure developers, handset vendors, telecommunication service providers, regulators, content developers, analysts and legal experts.
 

Etisalat Shares E-Waste Strategy With GSMA Chief

Etisalat today presented its environmental responsibility programme, Envirofone, to the CEO of the GSM Association (GSMA). Etisalat’s initiative aims to help rid landfills from dangerous electronic waste that can poison water sources and generally harm people’s health. Envirofone is now being rolled out across its international operations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The Etisalat Group’s management team, including Mohammed Omran, Chairman, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, Group Chief Operating Officer, Nasser bin Obood, Chief Executive of Etisalat UAE and Ahmed bin Ali, Group Senior Vice President Corporate Communications shared their plans with Mr Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA, in an exclusive briefing at Etisalat’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi.

“Etisalat has been working on its ‘Envirofone’ campaign in the UAE since 2007 and has since collected 450 tonnes of electronic waste which has all been safely disposed of in specialist factories. This programme is widely regarded as a success and has been cited in numerous environmental and CSR conferences,” said Ahmed bin Ali, Group Senior Vice President, Corporate Commuications. “This year, Etisalat plans to introduce a new Internet-based service which allows people to recycle and trade their old but still functional phones. This will help prevent damaging chemicals being released into the natural environment of emerging markets across Africa and Asia.”

Electronic waste is globally the largest growing waste category, increasing annually by 40 million tons. A single mobile phone can contain more than 40 elements from the periodic table, including very harmful and toxic substances such as Berylium, Cadmium and Lithium, and is capable of contaminating up to 600,000 litres of water. Through correct disposal, 80% of a phone can be recycled or energy recovered with the remainder being used in inert construction aggregates.

Rob Conway, Chief Executive Officer at the GSMA explained: “We estimate that of the mobile phones collected annually about 15-20% or up to about 4.5 million phones globally will be beyond economic repair and need to be recycled. The current total mass of phones to be recycled is about 582 tonnes, only about 0.001-0.003% of the estimated 20-50 million tonnes of waste electronic (e-waste) equipment each year. This is a major problem and we welcome the efforts of leading telecoms groups such as Etisalat in helping to provide a solution.”

For further information, please visit www.etisalat.com.
 

For Every 5 Minutes You Talk On International Calls, Etisalat Gives You 5 More For Free

Etisalat’s prepaid and postpaid customers can now talk on international calls as long as they want with Etisalat’s attractive, value-packed ‘5 for 5’ promotion. Under the new offer launched today, for every five minutes of international calls made, customers can talk for a further five minutes on the same call, for free. Therefore, within an international call lasting 60 minutes, customers get charged for 30 minutes and benefit from receiving the balance 30 minutes for free. Moreover, they can enjoy the convenience of calling abroad at anytime of the day, throughout the week.

All mobile customers subscribed to Wasel prepaid, MyPlan and My BusinessPlan postpaid accounts are eligible for this free promo. They can opt in by simply sending an SMS ‘F5’ to 1010, or by dialing *141*1#. The ‘5 for 5’ offer will run for a limited period. It is valid on the main recharge value of Wasel prepaid accounts, and on MyPlan and My BusinessPlan, even on the international minutes available within the bundles.

Commenting on the new offer, Motaz Hashem, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Etisalat, said; “Etisalat believes in rewarding its customers by continuously introducing innovative and value-packed offers and promotions. The new 5 for 5 promo not only adds great value on international calling, but also offers customers the special benefit of talking to their friends and families outside the UAE for much longer and at anytime of the day that suits them best.”

Mobile customers who are subscribed to any of Etisalat’s international plans, such as Favorite Country Plan, Super-Off Peak, Business 24×7 and Wasel Homeland, are also eligible for the promotion. They too will receive five free minutes for every five minutes of talking to any international destination, allowing them to enjoy twice the benefit. These customers will be charged as per the tariff on their selected international plan subscription.

For further information, customers can call 800PROMO (77666) or visit www.etisalat.ae.
 

Etisalat To Re-Number Existing TV Channels For eLife And E-Vision Customers

Etisalat today announced that it will re-number all the TV Channels for its eLife and e-vision customers, to enable greater ease of navigation. The re-numbering exercise is based on customer feedback and analysis of popular channel surfing habits.

Etisalat Board Announces Dividend At 35% Par Value For Second Half Of Year 2010

During a Board Meeting held today (Tuesday 22nd February) at Etisalat Head Office in Abu Dhabi, Etisalat’s Board confirmed the distribution of dividends at 35% par value of dividends profits for the second half of 2010. The Board members also discussed revenues and profits of the fiscal year 2010.

Etisalat has earlier distributed dividends at 25% for the first half of 2010, taking the total dividend for 2010 to 60%.

Etisalat’s Chairman and Board Members praised the financial results for the year 2010, with net revenue of AED 31.9 billion, which is 2% higher than year 2009 Net Revenues of AED 31.3 billion. Net assets for 2010 also recorded a 5% growth over 2009 from AED 40.4 billion to AED 42.6 billion. Etisalat also announced a net profit of AED 15.2 billion, before deducting royalty fee amounting to AED 7.6 billion, which is 50% of total net profit. Earnings per share reached AED 0.97 during 2010.

Mohammed Hassan Omran, Etisalat’s Chairman commented on the financial results achieved by the corporation during 2010 in light of the UAE’s telecom sector that has witnessed radical changes and an increase in competition. In addition, the saturation of the UAE’s mobile market with mobile penetration reaching over 200% has caused a slow-down in the growing number of mobile subscribers.

Omran commented, “Etisalat’s financial results in 2010 reflect the corporation’s long-term expansion strategy that began over five years ago. While local markets have reached saturation, the international markets have tremendous potential and Etisalat has started to reap the benefits of its international investments. The increasing contribution in revenues generated from international markets shows the importance of this expansion plan and clearly points out the positive impact it has on the financial results. The growth of the international group revenue, excluding the UAE, has reached 46% as compared to 2009.

These markets continue to hold promise in coming years, thereby reflecting the success of Etisalat’s strategy that aims to maintain a stable rate of growth, revenues and profit margins, benefiting both the corporation and all our stakeholders.”

Omran further added that Etisalat has been successful in being one of the leading telecom service providers globally because of the corporation’s commitment to anticipate market conditions well ahead in time and formulate winning business strategies. “We want to play a bigger role in the region through our growing operations in 18 countries across Asia and Africa, in addition to the expected acquisitions this year.”

“On the operational front”, highlighted Nasser Bin Obood, CEO, Etisalat, “we continue to achieve milestones and successes by building the UAE’s first and region’s widest 4G LTE network, bringing the nation in league with the world’s top countries that provide 4G services to their customers”.

Obood pointed out that on the network and coverage front, the organization always aims to be the customer’s first and preferred choice by providing them with best-in-line services through the widest network in the country. Etisalat’s international roaming network includes 620 telecommunication networks globally, in over 190 countries, making it the MENA’s widest roaming network. Etisalat’s mobile network covers the entire nation, while the country’s widest 3G network covers 99% of the UAE’s populated area.