Kuwait’s Wataniya Telecom has been selected as one of the operators offering the most competitive GSM rates in the region, according to an Arab Advisors Group report.
As Wataniya Telecom proceeds with its aggressive regional expansion program, it has committed to continuing its drive to bring competition and value-driven GSM services that are appropriate and accessible to its customers.
“The Kuwaiti GSM market provides a great case study for the positive effects of the introduction of competition to a GSM market, which has now been validated by the Arab Advisors Group's findings,” said Faisal Al-Ayyar, Chairman, Wataniya Telecom. “Competition has brought a huge jump in the penetration rate, as well as giving customers better value and more extensive services. We are hoping to replicate the success that we have had in Kuwait throughout the other countries we have been awarded licenses to operate in.”
The trend of more competitive pricing and better quality services across the region is evident as more GSM markets are liberalized. With the introduction of second GSM licenses, mobile users will be able to demand more from operators in terms of price, variety of service and network quality. This new era is displaying many signs that the Middle East telecommunications industry and its users are reaping many benefits from healthy competition in the sector.
“Wataniya Telecom first brought competition to the Kuwaiti market four years ago and we're now driving it regionally based on our experience of building leadership through offering people better value and the products that they want and need,” said CEO of Wataniya Telecom, David Murray.
Wataniya Telecom's regional portfolio of mobile operations now includes; Kuwait, Tunisia, Iraq and Algeria. Launched in 1999 as the second licensed GSM provider, Wataniya Telecom has a market capitalization exceeding $2.4 billion. With over 800,000 subscribers in Kuwait and 380,746 in Tunisia, Wataniya Telecom is a member of the KIPCO Holding group. KIPCO Holding has assets of more than $10 billion under management or control, is one of the leading diversified holding companies in the Middle East and North Africa. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
