Etisalat pullout: EMTS, Etisalat group in brand-use discussion

ITRealms:

The Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS) Limited, trading as Etisalat Nigeria has said it has entered high-level discussion with the Etisalat Group on the use of the brand in Nigeria in spite of its pull-out of the business, reports ITRealms.

The Vice President, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs at Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko, while reacting on reported withdrawal of Etisalat Group and the right to the continued use of the Etisalat brand in Nigeria by EMTS.

According to him, EMTS has a valid and subsisting agreement with the Etisalat Group, which entitles EMTS to use the Etisalat brand, notwithstanding the recent changes within the company.

He confirmed to ITRealms that EMTS is in discussion with Etisalat Group over the continued use of the brand in Nigeria.

“Indeed, discussions are ongoing between EMTS and Etisalat Group pertaining to the continued use of the brand, and EMTS will issue a formal statement once discussions are concluded,” he said.

Dikko pointed out that the final outcome on the use of the brand would in no way affect the operations of the business at full range of services remain available to ‘Etisalat’ customers in Nigeria.

He recalled some of the brand repositioning by EMTS since its launch in Nigeria nine years ago, which include but not limited to “0809ja” to affirm the “Nigerianness” of our origin and sphere of influence.

“In our 9 years of operation, we have remained a prime driver and avid supporter of the Nigerian spirit of excellence, and we will continue to stay true to our “Naijacentric identity” he said.

This notion, Dikko said, is strongly reflected in the telco core messages and depicted in major projects and initiatives which we have been known to support.

“All these initiatives have their foundation embedded in supporting key aspects of the Nigerian fabric: building Nigerian businesses and empowering Nigerian’s with a focus on the youth,” he said.

The VP Dikko maintained that Nigeria remains the soul of EMTS’ business and EMTS has made the brand alluring to teeming subscribers who see a piece of the spirit and character of Nigeria in everything the company do.

“EMTS is here to stay and we wish to assure our esteemed customers that our core values of youthfulness, customer-centricity and innovation will remain the pillars on which we operate. We thank our esteemed customers for their abiding faith in us,” Dikko reassured.

Nonye Dom/GEE 

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Etisalat group, Ericsson team up on networked society initiatives

ITRealms:

The  Etisalat Group in collaboration with Ericsson to boost its high-speed communications and video delivery networks using Ericsson’s innovative technologies and services to offer more citizens access to public services from any internet-enabled mobile device, anywhere and anytime, ITRealms reports.

This, ITRealms gathered was in recognition of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) market transformation and the need to adopt the latest digital technologies to satisfy consumers.

Hence, Etisalat and Ericsson signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a new collaboration to enable a high-speed, responsive network, laying the foundation for next-generation infrastructure for m-government and smart city initiatives.

ITRealms also gathered that high-speed broadband connectivity is fundamentally changing the way people live, interact and do business; consumers expect access to information, entertainment and businesses with faster speeds.

Through this partnership, Etisalat Group will launch trials of innovative Ericsson technologies such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) Broadcast, Ericsson Radio Dot System, and Ericsson’s heterogeneous network solutions.

Mr. Hatem Bamatraf, Chief Technology Officer at Etisalat Group affirmed to ITRealms that over the years, Etisalat Group has demonstrated its ability to build and sustain the most advanced and innovative networks.

“Conducting such innovative trials is only the first step. This will pave the way for further collaborations and the eventual delivery of more advanced, reliable and faster broadband access to users across the region,” he said.

Additionally, ITRealms learnt that Etisalat will collaborate with Ericsson to roll out a mobile identity based service, and to explore opportunities for expanding these services across each of the countries Etisalat Group operates in.

Mobile identity, ITRealms said, is a key foundation for m-government, m-commerce and m-health services.

“The service allows subscribers to use their mobile identity securely via a one-click sign in, giving access to diverse applications, government services and websites, without the risk of being data-mined by the various ID providers,” Bamatraf hinted.

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MTN Group Selects Etisalat SmartHub to Extend Regional Network Reach

ITRealms:

MTN and Etisalat groups respectively are partnering on smart hub to extend regional networks.

Ali Amiri, Executive Vice President, Carrier & Wholesale Services, Etisalat, confirmed this to ITRealms, saying that Etisalat, leading telecom operator in the Middle East and Africa, at the weekend, made this revelation of its partnership with MTN Group to extend their regional network reach via Etisalat SmartHub.

He said, MTN Group, a leading emerging markets telecommunications provider, will connect through Etisalat’s SmartHub at Fujairah CLS to expand its advanced data network capabilities.

ITRealms recalls that MTN, the South Africa-based multinational company operates in African, European and Middle Eastern countries.

He explained that Etisalat’s SmartHub provides advanced content, IPX, IX and high speed data services for its customers in the UAE and the region. Stressing that the new partnership will also enable MTN Group to connect via a new route to Europe, beneficial to its large customer base in the Middle East.

Etisalat's SmartHub is a global communications hub facilitating direct routing of traffic between the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Amiri said they are delighted to have such a prestigious telecom group as MTN join the SmartHub community of operators and content providers. Explaining that SmartHub is designed to provide partners with a one stop shop for connectivity to the region.

“This partnership with MTN Group showcases the importance of the SmartHub as well as puts UAE in the limelight as the regional hub for telecom services. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship and enhancing customer experience," Amiri said.

For Jyoti Desai, the Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, MTN “Etisalat’s Smarthub is seen as an important hub in our bid to expand MTN’s world class global multi-services network, as it allows us to provide advanced communication services to our customers in the Middle East and Africa. The rising significance of UAE’s strategic position as the communication network hub for the Middle East and Africa region underpins the importance of this partnership in our expansion plan.”

Nenye Dom/GEE
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Etisalat renews sponsorship deal with FC Barca

EtisalatGroup, the leading telecommunications operator in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, today Tuesday, renewed a four-year partnership deal with and FC Barcelona.

Speaking at the Mobile World Congress 2013, soon after the contract was renewed with a signing ceremony, the group chief executive officer (GCEO), Etisalat Group, Ahmad Julfar, explained that the deal means the UAE-based company is FC Barcelona official partner in the region, including countries where it has operations such as Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Niger, Gabon and Central Africa Republic.

According to him, this agreement is a major event for the telecommunications industry This signing took place precisely in Barcelona at FC Barcelona’s stadium, Camp Nou, between Mr Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar of Etisalat Group and Sandro Rosell, the president of FC Barcelona.

 

Present at the ceremony include Mr. Steven Evans, Etisalat’s CEO for Nigeria, Khalid Al Kaf, CEO for Mobily, which operates in Saudi Arabia, Nagi Abboud, CEO for Atlantique Telecom, its Chief Regional Officer for Africa, Essa Al Haddad and Rainer Rathgeber, Etisalat Group’s Chief Commercial Officer.

“As a global telecommunications operator, it makes sense for us to partner with a world-class football club interested in expanding its international fan base,” the group CEO said. 

This partnership, he also said, presents a unique opportunity for the mobile company to demonstrate Etisalat Group’s capabilities as a telecommunications operator, while allowing FC Barcelona to engage new fans in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

“We very much look forward to sharing the talent of FC Barcelona with our customers,” he said.

Commenting, Mr. Evans of Etisalat Nigeria noted that football is a major past-time in Nigeria and across Africa.

“People from all walks of life enjoy this sport and other activities associated with it. By partnering with FC Barcelona, we’re able to allow our customers and Nigerians especially, to extend their support to the world's most famous football team,” he said.

As said by him, the FCB partnership creates a suitable platform to connect with customers across segments that are passionate about international football, stressing that Etisalat will continue to support the development of sports in Nigeria and provide platforms such as this to key into the passion of Nigerians.

For Sandro Rosell, the president of FC Barcelona, they want to attract new fans from around the world and ongoing partnership with Etisalat has created another way for this to be achieved thereby enhancing FCB image and presence in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

“Our team looks forward to playing for Etisalat Group’s customers and is excited about how easy they are making it for committed and potential fans to view our matches,” he submitted.

Remmy Nweke 
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EasyAdz: Etisalat’s permission-base mobile advertising debuts in Lagos

The acclaimed innovative mobile network operator, Etisalat Nigeria, Tuesday, August 14, 2012 in Lagos unveiled EasyAdz, a permission-based mobile advertising platform, which is riding on Alcatel-Lucent’s Optism.

Key Account manager-EMTS at Alcatel-Lucent, Mr. Miguel Bueno told ITRealms exclusively that this service emanated from the Etisalat Group and it was exciting that a member of the group has chosen the Opium.

This platform to be marketed by WildFusion, Etisalat says, is made up of key players in the advertising industry such as brands, advertisers, media buying agencies, Alcatel-Lucent as the technology partner, which creates a mutually beneficial relationship between the brands and their customers by facilitating the communication of only relevant and important product and services information from a brand to the customer based on customer’s areas of interest.

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