Al-Lu To Prepare Tunisiana For 3G and LTE

Alcatel-Lucent has announced that it has signed a deal with Tunisiana to upgrade the cellco’s network to IP as it prepares for 3G and LTE. 


The operator says migrating to an all-IP infrastructure will allow it to offer a full range of converged services, along with increased reliability, scalability and speed. 


No financial details have been disclosed. Tunisiana, formerly part of Orascom Telecom, became a subsidiary of Qatar Telecom in January 2011.

Qtel Abandons Africa Plans, Eyes More Middle East Investments

The CEO of Qatar Telecom (Qtel), Nasser Marafih, says the company is looking into increasing its investments in the Iraqi and Algerian telecoms markets because of the potential for expansion in the two countries, according to a report in The Peninsula.

Qtel controls 36.2% of mobile operator Wataniya Telecom Algeria (Nedjma), via a 71% stake held by Kuwaiti-based Wataniya Telecom (NMTC), a 51%-owned subsidiary of Qtel. The Qatari mobile, fixed line and broadband group also holds 30% of the consortium-controlled cellco Asiacell in Iraq. In Algeria, the second national operator (SNO) fixed line licence is currently vacant; in January 2010 previous SNO Lacom’s licence was officially revoked, potentially paving the way for the concession to be reauctioned later in the year.

Dr Marafih was quoted as saying that the global financial crisis had some positive impact on Qtel’s businesses in the sense that the lowering of licence fees worldwide to a ‘more realistic’ level meant it was cheaper to expand into new markets. The lower prices, the CEO continued, will create further opportunities for Qtel’s acquisitions in the future.

‘We now have control of 14 communication companies in 17 countries,’ he said, but added, however, that Qtel has abandoned any plans for expanding into African markets because of the high levels of competition. It is thought likely he was just referring to sub-Saharan countries; Qtel recently indicated interest in entering Morocco’s mobile sector.

Zain Plans to Partner With PalTel

Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co (Zain) says it is in advanced talks to become a strategic partner in Palestinian operator Palestine Telecommunication Company (PalTel), reports Reuters. PalTel operates in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "We are in advanced talks and could conclude a deal soon," said a Zain spokesman, declining to say if Zain wanted to buy a majority stake as it usually does when entering new markets.

Kuwait's biggest mobile operator, which is spending billions to expand and now operates in 22 countries in the Middle East and Africa, gave no more details in a statement.

The Palestinian Securities Exchange said in a statement it had suspended trading on Paltel at Paltel's request until the merger was completed. A second Palestinian mobile network, Wataniya, is expected to come into operation this year. Wataniya is owned by Qatar Telecommunications Co and the Palestinian Authority's Palestinian Investment Fund.