Tag Archives | 3G

Asiacell Reactivating Parts of its Network

By John Lee. In its 3Q statement to the markets, Asiacell's owner Ooredoo has said that its overall financial performance was impacted by the security situation in Iraq. Asiacell recorded improved revenue, EBITDA, and Net Profit in Q3 2015 compared to Q2 2015. Asiacell's total customer base stood at 10.6 million at the end of […]

3G Should Bolster Telco Revenues

By John Lee. A telecommunications analyst has said that the recent launch of 3G services in Iraq should stabilize the revenue and profit of Iraq’s mobile phone operators this year, following the difficulties caused by the war against the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL). Omar Maher of EFG Hermes told Reuters that 2016 could see high […]

Zain Iraq Launches "3.9G" Services

By John Lee. Zain Group has announces that its mobile operation in Iraq launched 3.9G voice and data services across the country on January 1, 2015. The launch came following the finalization of an agreement with Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission (CMC) on November 10, 2014, which culminated in Zain Iraq making an initial 25% […]

Asiacell Launches 3G Service

By John Lee. Asiacell has announced the launch of its third generation (3G) mobile phone services in Iraq. “Iraq has been underserved for far too long, it’s time to bring 21st century wireless service to this important economic hub in the world,” said Faruk Mustafa Rasool (pictured), Asiacell chairman. Asiacell has spent more than $1bn […]

Zain to Launch 3G by Jan

By John Lee. Zain Iraq is to launch its 3G mobile phone services in January. Reuters reports that Zain, along with rivals Asiacell and Korek, eventually agreed to the government’s terms and formally signed the contracts at a ceremony in Baghdad on Monday attended by prime minister Haider al-Abadi. Zain Iraq recently paid the first […]

Telcos Agree to Pay $307m for 3G

By John Lee. Reuters reports that Iraq’s mobile phone companies have agreed to demands from the country's Communications and Media Commission (CMC) to pay $307 million each for radio spectrum to run 3G mobile phone networks. Current 2G services are supplied by Zain Iraq (a unit of Kuwait’s Zain), Asiacell (a subsidiary of Ooredoo) and Orange […]

$307m Bill for 3G Spectrum

By John Lee. Iraq is reportedly seeking $307 million [358 billion Iraqi dinars] from each of the country's three mobile phone operators for spectrum to run 3G (third-generation) services. According to Reuters, all three operators – Zain Iraq (owned by Kuwait's Zain), Asiacell (owned by Ooredoo) and Korek (Orange) – paid $1.25 billion each for so-called "technology-neutral" […]

Ooredoo hits out at Iraq Delays

By John Lee. Qatari telecommunications operator Ooredoo, which owns the Iraqi mobile phone company Asiacell, has hit out at prices quoted by the Iraqi government for a long-delayed auction for 3G spectrum licences. Company CEO Dr Nasser Marafih (pictured) told Arabian Business: “The country needs it, the people need it. We are ready to deploy […]

3G Licences "at Least $307m Each"

By John Lee. Ahmed Alomary, a former commissioner at the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), told Reuters that Iraq plans to auction third-generation (3G) telecommunications licences for a minimum of $307 million each. Current 2G services are supplied by Zain Iraq (a unit of Kuwait's Zain), Asiacell (a subsidiary of Ooredoo) and Orange affiliate Korek, who […]

Korek Awaits Spectrum Allocation to Launch 3G

Korek Telecom hopes to launch a third-generation (3G) network later this year, but is waiting for the Iraqi government to allocate the necessary spectrum, the operator's chief executive said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The company, in which France Telecom and Kuwait's Agility own stakes, claims a 70 percent market share in Kurdistan. Yet its […]