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.
back to the News Center
|
