The Small and Medium Business (SMB) sector plays a key role in the UAE economy in driving innovation, job creation and disruptive business models. Given the importance of this segment, Etisalat has been working closely with businesses across all sectors to cater to their requirements, ensure a successful digital journey and facilitate business continuity during these unprecedented times.
Kuwait-based telecommunications company Zain Group’s CEO - Operations has resigned and will leave the company within 10 days, the company announced in a statement. Scott Gegenheimer’s last working day with the company will be on November 15th, with his departure announced on the same day the company released third quarterly results.
Etisalat, along with telecom leaders participated in Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, the event powered by Etisalat’s 5G fixed network, blending physical and virtual presence allowing participants to join seamlessly from anywhere in the world.
Zain Group announces its consolidated financial results for the third quarter and nine-month period of 2020.
Ookla, the global leader in fixed broadband and mobile network testing applications, data and analysis today recognised Etisalat for being the fastest mobile network operator worldwide in 2020 providing its subscribers the most superior experience with the fastest mobile speeds from anywhere in the world.
Telecom Egypt and St Helena Government (SHG) have signed an agreement to connect the Island to Telecom Egypt’s subsea system over the Equiano submarine cable system. Telecom Egypt will be the first to provide St Helena with a fibre optic connection to the rest of the world, which is a crucial step towards the Island’s economic growth. The cable, along with the associated high-speed internet, is planned to be delivered to the Island by early 2022.
Telecom Egypt has signed a contract with Amsterdam-based internet exchange AMS-IX. The aim is to establish an internet exchange point in Egypt (EG-IX) inside Telecom Egypt's international Tier III certified data center, in Smart Village.
Ooredoo Group announced a strong set of financial results despite macroeconomic weakness in some of their markets. The Doha-based company said its net profit increased by 16%to QAR 1.47 billion in the first nine months to 30 September from QAR 1.26 billion in the same period in 2019 in a more favorable foreign exchange environment.
Revenue declined by 3 percent year-on-year to QAR 21.41 billion from QAR 21.96 billion because of COVID-19, with a reduction in handset sales and roaming business. This was partially offset by growth in Indonesia. 
Commenting on the results, Sheikh Faisal Bin Thani Al Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo, said: “Ooredoo Group has been fortunate to have a well-diversified business – across geography and customer composition – in addition to a strong balance sheet, which has helped us maintain resilience during these challenging times.”
Data revenues accounted for more than 50% of total revenue, supported by data leadership and digital transformation initiatives in the countries where Ooredoo operates. EBITDA declined by 4 percent year-on-year to QAR 9.2 billion from QAR 9.66 billion in 2019, hit by lower revenues and higher cost of sale as well as challenging market conditions in Algeria, Kuwait, Iraq and Oman.
The company maintains its focus on digitalization and cost optimization, which is reflected in the EBITDA margin of 43 percent, compared with 44 percent in 2019.
Ooredoo Qatar
Ooredoo Qatar revenue reached QAR 5.3 billion in the first nine months to 30 September compared with QAR 5.4 billion in the same period of 2019. EBITDA stood at QAR 2.9 billion compared with QAR 3.0 billion in 2019. The customer base rose by 2.7 percent year on year to 3.3 million, with mobile customers growing by 3.2 percent, and the postpaid customer base up by 2.8 percent. The EBITDA margin sustained its positive trend at 55 percent compared with 56 percent in 2019.
Ooredoo Oman
Lockdowns and movement restrictions also impacted Ooredoo Oman’s results for the period. Revenues declined 5% to QAR 1.9 billion compared to the same period last year, due to a reduction in mobile revenues. Consequently, EBITDA for the period declined 9% to QAR 1.0 billion compared to the same period last year.
Ooredoo Kuwait
Ooredoo Kuwait group revenues decreased by 6 percent to KWD 155.4 million for the first nine months to 30 September from KWD 169.7 million in the same period of 2019. EBITDA dropped by 13 percent to KWD 40.6 million from KWD 53.1 million for the same period in 2019. Net profit decreased by 75 percent to KWD 5.9 million from KWD 23.5 million in 2019, due to the decline in EBITDA.
Egypt has raised $1.17 billion in the award of new spectrum licenses to the three mobile operators. Vodafone Egypt, Telecom Egypt and Etisalat Misr all acquired new ten-year licenses for the 2.6 GHz band.
MTN Group has released its quarterly update for the period ended 30 September 2020, highlighting that the total number of subscribers across its 21 markets of operation totaled 273.4 million, a net increase of 12 million, as service revenue increased by 11.4% on an annualized basis.
