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Oman Telecom News

 

Nawras wins Oman TRA bid (From The Gulf News, November 19, 2008)

 

Muscat - A top executive from Nawras, Oman's second mobile telephone service provider, was thrilled to emerge as as a successful bidder for full fixed line public telecommunications services in Oman.

 

"We are thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the people of Oman," the Nawras CEO Ross Cormac, told Gulf News yesterday after the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) named the company as the successful bidder.

 

Earlier, PCCW-Awaser Oman Consortium, a joint venture between the Hong Kong-based telecom company Pacific Century Cyber Works (PCCW) and a local partner, had emerged as the highest bidder.

 

License

 

"The PCCW-Awaser Oman Consortium could not fulfill certain obligations, thus the license is now being given to Nawras," a statement by Nawras said on Wednesday.

 

At that time, the PCCW-Awaser Oman Consortium was given 15 working days to honour their obligations before TRA in accordance with the Information Memorandum. No further details were announced by the TRA yesterday.

 

"We thank TRA for having given us this opportunity," said Cormack.

 

Nawras has been offering mobile phone services since 2005 and will now have the opportunity to set up its own infrastructure, including marine cables.

 

"This is a fantastic chance given to us and would give people of the country a variety of services and products," he believes.

 

Fixed-line operator in Oman pledges to revolutionize services (From The Gulf News, November 3, 2008)

 

 

Muscat - A consortium formed by PCCW International (HK) Limited and Awaser Oman LLC, who were recently awarded the second fixed telecommunications license in Oman, have pledged to revolutionize communications in the country.

 

"We welcome liberalization of the fixed telecommunications market, along with the award of this license, which empowers Awaser Oman to revolutionize communications in Oman, deliver tremendous benefits to consumers, businesses and government and drive economic growth," PCCW Group Managing Director Alex Arena said in a statement.

 

Operating under the brand name Awaser Oman, which means "connecting Oman" in English, the new licensee will mobilize the necessary resources, knowledge and experience to deliver innovative and affordable communications in Oman.

 

"In developing our network and commercial plans for Oman, we paid the utmost attention to Telecommunications Regulatory Authority objectives, which are to increase resilience in Oman's fixed infrastructure via creation of a second network, and to increase broadband penetration," Arena said.

 

GCC telecoms bid for Omantel stake (From ameinfo.com, August 18, 2008)

 

- Eight regional and global telecom companies including Saudi Telecom Co, Qtel, and Emirates Telecom Corp have expressed interest in bidding for the 25% stake in Oman Telecom (Omantel), Reuters has reported. Oman had extended the deadline for expressions of interest to August 15 from July 18.

 

Omantel plans "sizeable" Pakistan telecom investment (April 20, 2008)

 

MUSCAT (Reuters) - Oman Telecommunications Co (Omantel) said it plans to invest a "sizeable" amount expanding its Pakistan Worldcall Telecom unit, whose $200 million purchase it has completed.

 

"Focus of roll-out will principally target broadband segment with sustained growth of voice centric services," Omantel said in a statement on the Omani bourse website on Sunday.

 

"This planned expansion coupled with initial investment would see a sizable inflow of capital into Pakistan."

 

Omantel bought 488.8 million shares of Worldcall, equivalent to 65 percent of the company, of which 60 percentage points came from the founders and the remainder from holders of publicly held stock, Omantel said.

 

"Through this acquisition, Omantel has acquired direct access to a market of 170 million with immense potential for growth in core telecom and broadband service offerings," Omantel said.

 

Omantel said in February it agreed to pay $193 million for Worldcall. It was not clear whether that was for 60 percent or 65 percent of the company.

 

Omantel bids $204m for 65% stake in Pakistan firm (From Gulf News, November 11, 2007)

 

Muscat - Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) has offered $204 million to acquire a 65 per cent stake in Pakistani firm World Call Telecom.

 

"We have decided to invest in World Call Telecom as we are keen to increase our annual profits as well as share earnings," said a statement issued by Omantel on Saturday.

 

Omantel plans to purchase 60 per cent of the stake from the major owners of the Pakistani company and five per cent from other shareholders through the securities market.

 

Omantel said this investment - the first of its kind outside Oman - is expected to boost the company's revenues in the medium-term by 19-25 per cent and increase its net profits by 3-14 per cent.

 

Omantel told the Capital Market Authority it would provide more details on the deal after completing legal formalities.

 

 

Oman Telecom shares surge on HSBC rating, sale plan (October 11, 2007)

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - Shares of Oman Telecommunications Co (Omantel) surged almost 7 percent on Thursday to a 20-month high after HSBC recommended its clients buy the stock and the government moved to sell a stake to an investor.

 

The rally brings to more than 23 percent the gain in six trading days since the government said on Oct. 3 it was retroactively cutting royalties Omantel pays and preparing to sell shares to a long-term investor.

 

"There has been hectic international buying," said Sankar Kailasam, head of research at Gulf Investment Services in Muscat, Oman, which manages about $110 million of assets in Arab markets.

 

 

"The reduction in royalties has given a boost to the company," said Kailasam.

 

HSBC started coverage of Omantel with an "overweight" rating and a price target of 2.26 rials ($5.87). The stock was up 6.7 percent at 1.59 rials at 1054 GMT. It could rise to 1.70 by the end of next week, Kailasam said.

 

Oman is an under-penetrated market compared with its five Gulf Arab oil-producing peers, HSBC said.

 

New management or a potential strategic partner may act as a catalyst for growth and margin enhancement, it said.

 

Omantel said on Wednesday it appointed a new chairman and other board members.

 

The cut in royalties to 7 percent on fixed-line and mobile phone revenue from 10 percent and 12 percent respectively will probably add about 14 million rials to Omantel profit this year, said a company official last week.

 

The company made 80.7 million rials in net profit last year, an increase of 19 percent, according to Reuters data.

 

Omantel eyes regional markets for expansion (From Gulf News, March 27, 2007)

 

 

Muscat - Oman Telecommunication (Omantel) is looking at all markets in the region to expand, according to the company's top executive.

 

"We are keeping an eye on all markets in the region for expansion - not only in the Arab region but also in North African and South Asian countries," Omantel CEO Dr Mohammad Ali Al Wohaibi said on the sidelines of the 17th edition of Comex at the Oman Exhibition Centre yesterday.

 

Oman's Minister of Transport and Communications, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Abdullah Bin Eisa Al Harthi, declared open the annual five-day event, which has attracted over 100 international and local exhibitors.

 

Dr Al Woahibi said that the Omani company was interested in bidding for a mobile service provider's license in Qatar.

 

But he added that the company will have to wait for the new network to get ready.

 

Dr Al Wohaibi said the company was getting ready for competition in the internet service sector.

 

The competition was on the way, said Colonel Mohsin Bin Alawi Al Hafeedh, Board member of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

 

But he ruled out opening of the fixed phone line sector.

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