UAE’s Etisalat to operate second fixed phone company in Sudan

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Nov 22, 2004 (PANA) — Gulf Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) will head the consortium that has won a licence to operate
Sudan’s second nationwide fixed line phone service.

Sudan’s regulatory authority, the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC), confirmed mid last week that the Etisalat-led Kanartel was selected over the two rival consortiums left in the competition and would begin operations within a year.

“The 40 percent Etisalat-owned consortium got the licence in the face of stiff competition from second round opponents Egyptian Telecom and
Tamara, a grouping of Korean companies”, says a statement issued here.

It added that the other interested operator consortiums dropped out after the first round of the tender and were not invited for negotiations.

Kanartel, which made the approved bid at 45 million Euro, secured the
licence on the basis of its imaginative and comprehensive technical plan,
its cutting edge expertise. It also convinced the Sudanese authorities of
its serious commitment to developing communications in the Africa’s
largest country .

The Etisalat-led consortium recently landed a licence to operate a
massive US$3.457 billion second GSM in Saudi Arabia.

The roll-out of Etisalat’s expansion strategy into Sudan through Kanartel
consolidates its market leading position in the regional communications
market.

“The second fixed line licence in Sudan is a huge success for our efforts
to roll out our premium services and cutting-edge technology across the
Middle East and North Africa region.

“We have become a truly regional player and this latest
market of operation can only strengthen our position as the leading
communications operator in the region”, said Etisalat’s President and
Chief Executive Officer, Mohamm ad Hamed Omran, a press statement issued
in Khartoum Monday.

Omran added that Etisalat was determined to become the driving force for
change in the region’s communications sector and affirmed his corporation
believes that its customer-focused business strategy will ensure that it
achieve its objectives. Etisalat will manage, operate and maintain the
Kanartel network.

The agreement is similar to the deal put together by Etisalat Etitihad,
the consortium that won the Saudi second GSM licence and Kanartel will
creat 2,000 jobs within five years.

“The Sudan market has its own needs and requirements and our aim is to
satisfy these,” Omran explained

He expressed his belief that the people of Sudan will welcome the element
of choice and the contribution of Kanartel, not only to communications in
the country, but also to the economy and to the employment opportunities
available.

“We fully intend to deploy the full range of our advanced technologies to
provide a range of services that is of the highest standard,” Omran’s
statement continued.

Etisalat also holds shares in regional operators such as Qatar Telecom
(Qtel), Sudatel, Zantel, satellite-based telecoms service provider
Thuraya and its international cable link to act as the regional hub for
online services.