After announcing that they’ve surpassed the 100 million subscriber mark, the UAE’s telecom giant, Etisalat, is eyeing Lebanon (again) as one of its future markets of interest:
“We are focusing on the Middle East where we have a good understanding of the market,” [Mohammed Omran, chairman of Etisalat] added. Etisalat currently operates 18 networks across the world.
Omran, who was speaking at a conference on mergers and acquisitions, said the countries that Etisalat was aiming to expand into included Syria, Iraq, Oman, Lebanon, Libya and Morocco.
The only thing that could bring telecom costs down is competition but I am definitely not expecting anything to happen soon.
Though it might be interesting to point out that a third mobile subscriber “exists” in Lebanon. If you have a Sony Ericsson mobile with the latest firmware (I haven’t checked with other brands), and you go through their list of Preferred Networks, you see that Lebanon has three: other than the two incumbent, there is also OGERO Mobile.
Etisalat eyes Lebanon mobile market.
I thought no other companies than Alfa and MTC are allowed to operate in Lebanon. Anyways I hope they start allowing more companies to enter the market. But what does Ogero Mobile do?! Are they running a mobile network for local residents?
.-= Serpico´s lastest blog entry ..Lebanese behind the largest illegal use of Quebec’s healthcare insurance RAMQ =-.
Well when you have a monopoly over landlines, it shouldn’t be too hard to branch into mobile networks. There was always a plan for a third mobile operator but OGERO haven’t gotten far yet.
The chinese vendor Huawei offered telecom equipment to Ogero in preparation for entering future bids for the 3rd operator (LibanTelecom which is set to replace Ogero). The (limited) network was installed for testing, that’s why in some areas you can receive its signal.
Hey Phil, thanks for the explanation.