Etisalat eyes new telecoms services

Telecommunications providers in the UAE are re-aligning their strategies and upgrading their networks amid greater competition, high mobile saturation and shifting revenue patterns, reports Global Arab Network.

High saturation levels means that Etisalat is exploring new, non-traditional telecoms services such as online content and e-books - as potential revenue spinners.

Etisalat, which already offers services in 18 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, counting more than 100 million customers, is set to become even bigger through the purchase of a controlling stake in Kuwaiti operator Zain

Libyan state-owned firm LAP Green Network signed a deal to buy a majority stake in Chad's Sotel telecoms firm for $90 million, the latest in a series of African investments by Libya, states Reuters Africa.

The Libyan firm, which is owned by sovereign wealth fund the Libyan African Investment Portfolio, owns or controls telecoms operations in eight African countries.

LAP Green Network managing director Abdulbaset Elazzabi says the firm would develop Chad's mobile and fixed-line networks and planned to connect Chad to fibre optic cables, which would make high-speed Internet and mobile phone data services widely available.

Liberia moves to boost telecom services as a telecom company based in Kuwait, Hits Africa, acquired majority shares in the Atlantic Wireless Liberia and Libercell, says Africa News.

The move is part of a deal to extend and improve the telecommunication services throughout the West African country.

Hits Africa is expected to infuse capital to implement one of the biggest telecommunication programmes that would provide a national coverage and valued-added services in the country's telecommunication sector.