GSM mobile phone system will be launched in Yemen Wednesday for the first time, according to Yemen Observer.
The paper quoted Director General of Saba Fon, Hassan Kabbani, as saying that the launching of Saba Fon GSM services will be “the highlight of the year,” adding that the service will provide grounds to attract foreign investors and update the communication facilities in the country.
Kabbani announced that the cost of GSM line will be less than YR 20,000 ($110) while the phone call fees would be YR 14 per minute. The price will be reduced to YR 10 per minute if the call is made from one mobile to another on the Saba Fon network.
Due to the geographical diversity of Yemen, the official said, Saba Fon will start their services in Sana'a and by March expand to Aden, Taiz and Ibb. Kabbani announced that the whole country will be covered by the end of the year.
State-run TeleYemen, established in 1990, is responsible for the telecom sector in Yemen.
A joint venture, share holders of the company are are Cable and Wireless plc(51%) and the Yemen's Public Telecommunications Corporation (49%).
Since the unification of Yemen, TeleYemen says it has responded to the increasing demand of international telecommunications services, especially in the eastern and western governorates – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
