Zain Iraq and Nokia Siemens Networks sign a US $150 million network modernization contract
Zain Iraq, the country’s leading mobile operator has signed up Nokia Siemens Networks in a US $150 million contract to increase capacity while also simplifying and modernizing its existing core network. Nokia Siemens Networks will unify the technologies and bring them under Nokia Siemens Networks portfolio, thus assuming responsibility for Zain Iraq’s Core, Intelligent Network and Value Added Services elements of the network.
Mr. Ali AL Dahwi, CEO, Zain Iraq, says, “Gearing up to increase our network capacity meant that we first and foremost require a vendor who could integrate the two core networks in operation with us. Given our group’s long term strategic partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks and the personal dedication of the local team, they were in the best position to provide us a stable, reliable country-wide network at a significantly reduced operating expenditure.”
With eight million active customers, Zain Iraq, born out of the two most successful mobile operations in Iraq namely MTC Atheer and Iraqna who have been providing a wide range of mobile telephony and data services since early December 2003. Under the flagship Zain brand operating in 22 countries spread across Middle East and Africa (MEA), Zain Iraq hopes to consolidate its leadership and increase capacity as this core network upgrade will allow the operation to serve 12 million customers.
Nokia Siemens Networks will execute the project over a period of 10 – 12 months building one of the largest mobile networks in the Middle East.
Jan Cron, Head of Middle East and Africa region for Nokia Siemens Networks said, “Nokia Siemens Networks has proven time and again that it is a committed and valuable partner to the entire Zain group of companies. With Zain Iraq, our multi-vendor integration capabilities will enable them to reach out to an ever greater number of subscribers in as cost effective manner as possible, thus fulfilling their mission of providing mobile services to the people of Iraq at highly affordable rates.”
Nokia Siemens Networks believes that the future of the communications industry lies in understanding and uniting communities. Driven by a desire to have 5 billion people connected by 2015, Nokia Siemens Networks will have an unparalleled capability to deliver ‘end-to-end’ convergent solutions based on a broad portfolio of fixed and mobile infrastructure products, services and devices.
About Zain Group
Zain is a leading emerging markets player in the field of telecommunications aiming to become one of the top ten mobile groups in the world by 2011. Zain was established in 1983 in Kuwait as the region’s first mobile operator. Since 2003, it has grown significantly becoming the 4th largest telecommunications company in the world in terms of geographic presence with a footprint in 22 countries spread across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to over 45.7 million active customers (as at 31 March 2008).
In the Middle East the company operates under the Zain brand name in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Sudan. In Lebanon the company operates as mtc-touch. Zain plans to commence operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2008.
In Africa, Zain operates under the Celtel brand (www.celtel.com) in 14 sub-Saharan African countries namely: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The company’s mobile telecommunications operations in Ghana will begin in 2008.
The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). The company had a market
capitalization of over US$29 billion on 31 March, 2008.
For more information please visit www.zain.com
Mr. Ali AL Dahwi, CEO, Zain Iraq, says, “Gearing up to increase our network capacity meant that we first and foremost require a vendor who could integrate the two core networks in operation with us. Given our group’s long term strategic partnership with Nokia Siemens Networks and the personal dedication of the local team, they were in the best position to provide us a stable, reliable country-wide network at a significantly reduced operating expenditure.”
With eight million active customers, Zain Iraq, born out of the two most successful mobile operations in Iraq namely MTC Atheer and Iraqna who have been providing a wide range of mobile telephony and data services since early December 2003. Under the flagship Zain brand operating in 22 countries spread across Middle East and Africa (MEA), Zain Iraq hopes to consolidate its leadership and increase capacity as this core network upgrade will allow the operation to serve 12 million customers.
Nokia Siemens Networks will execute the project over a period of 10 – 12 months building one of the largest mobile networks in the Middle East.
Jan Cron, Head of Middle East and Africa region for Nokia Siemens Networks said, “Nokia Siemens Networks has proven time and again that it is a committed and valuable partner to the entire Zain group of companies. With Zain Iraq, our multi-vendor integration capabilities will enable them to reach out to an ever greater number of subscribers in as cost effective manner as possible, thus fulfilling their mission of providing mobile services to the people of Iraq at highly affordable rates.”
Nokia Siemens Networks believes that the future of the communications industry lies in understanding and uniting communities. Driven by a desire to have 5 billion people connected by 2015, Nokia Siemens Networks will have an unparalleled capability to deliver ‘end-to-end’ convergent solutions based on a broad portfolio of fixed and mobile infrastructure products, services and devices.
About Zain Group
Zain is a leading emerging markets player in the field of telecommunications aiming to become one of the top ten mobile groups in the world by 2011. Zain was established in 1983 in Kuwait as the region’s first mobile operator. Since 2003, it has grown significantly becoming the 4th largest telecommunications company in the world in terms of geographic presence with a footprint in 22 countries spread across the Middle East and Africa providing mobile voice and data services to over 45.7 million active customers (as at 31 March 2008).
In the Middle East the company operates under the Zain brand name in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Sudan. In Lebanon the company operates as mtc-touch. Zain plans to commence operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2008.
In Africa, Zain operates under the Celtel brand (www.celtel.com) in 14 sub-Saharan African countries namely: Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The company’s mobile telecommunications operations in Ghana will begin in 2008.
The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). The company had a market
capitalization of over US$29 billion on 31 March, 2008.
For more information please visit www.zain.com
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