Analysis Telecoms Analysts opt for small Gulf telcos despite profits at majors The Gulf’s major former telecom monopolies reported steady first-quarter profit growth and have proved a safe haven for equity investors during market volatility this year. However, it is their smaller domestic rivals that analysts prefer. Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the UAE’s e& (formerly and more commonly known as Etisalat), Qatar’s Ooredoo and Kuwait’s Zain are […] June 13, 2025
Tech Gulf investors help finance growth of Turkish data centres Turkey’s data centre sector is riding a wave of new investment that is likely to support expansion in the country’s digital economy, with much of the funding coming from the Arabian Gulf. Last month, Turkish e-commerce platform Trendyol announced it was partnering with the UAE’s Castle Investments, headed by Gulf Data Hub founder Tarek Al […] June 10, 2025
Telecoms Gulf companies compete for Syrian fibre optic project Syria’s government is in talks with regional telecoms companies Zain, Etisalat, STC and Ooredoo for a $300 million project to develop the country’s fibre optic communications network, two Syrian officials have said. The talks with the Gulf Arab companies are part of growing global investor interest in Syria’s economy following US President Donald Trump’s announcement […] June 5, 2025
Telecoms Starlink to begin operating in Lebanon Satellite internet provider Starlink, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk, has secured initial approval from Lebanon to start operating in the country. The agreement comes just a few months before the crisis-battered nation signs a landmark rescue agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Lebanese media reported on Monday that economy and trade minister Amer […] June 3, 2025
Video length: 04:09 VIDEO Telecoms Veon boss reveals why the telco swapped Europe for Dubai Telecom and digital services company Veon delisted from the Amsterdam stock market last year and moved its operations to Dubai, becoming the largest Nasdaq-listed company with headquarters in the UAE. AGBI spoke to the company’s CEO, Kaan Terzioglu, about its plans to dual-list in Dubai within the next three to five years. “I am bullish […] June 2, 2025
Telecoms Elon Musk’s Starlink in talks to enter Iraqi market Starlink, a US satellite internet provider owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has sent a team to Baghdad to discuss pushing into the Iraqi market, a market of 47 million people. Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Sudani met the team in Baghdad on Wednesday and the talks focused on potential services related to digital transformation and improving Iraq’s […] May 29, 2025
Telecoms Turkcell secures $150m loan from Dubai Islamic Bank Turkey’s mobile operator Turkcell has secured its second loan from a UAE bank in a week. Dubai Islamic Bank will provide $150 million financing to fund digital infrastructure. The five-year Islamic facility will allow Turkcell to advance critical infrastructure such as data centres, cloud technologies and renewable energy, the lender said in a statement. Last […] May 28, 2025
Infrastructure Syria says foreign partners vital to modernise telecoms International partners will be vital to bringing Syria’s telecom infrastructure up to date after 14 years of civil war, according to the country’s interim minister for communication and information technology. “In wanting our people to actually make that leap in technology, in enabling them through technology and giving them the services they deserve through technology, […] May 23, 2025
Telecoms Aramco and STC units back US tech startup Graphiant US network connectivity startup Graphiant has secured funding from the venture capital units of Saudi Aramco and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), as it plans to open a regional headquarters in Riyadh. Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures and STC Tali Ventures have invested a combined $19 million, bringing total series B funding to $102 million, Graphiant said in a statement. […] May 21, 2025
Telecoms Turkcell gets Emirates NBD loan to expand data centres Turkey’s mobile operator Turkcell has secured €100 million ($113 million) in sharia-compliant funding from Emirates NBD to accelerate its investment in data centres. TDC Veri Hizmetleri (TDC is a subsidiary of Turkcell, which is listed on both the Borsa İstanbul and the New York Stock Exchange. Turkcell’s strategy focuses on building high-capacity, eco-friendly data centres […] May 21, 2025
Telecoms Zain revenue raises Omantel’s profits Omantel, Oman’s largest telecoms provider, reported a significant rise in net profits in the first quarter of 2025, thanks to strong performance by its Kuwaiti subsidiary Zain. Its net profit rose to OR65 million ($168 million) in the first three months of this year, up 60 percent over the same period in 2024. Omantel’s group […] May 15, 2025
Space Elon Musk says Saudi Arabia approves use of Starlink SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Saudi Arabia has approved the use of the company’s Starlink satellite system for its aviation and maritime sectors. Starlink is a low-orbit satellite network offering high-speed broadband services, particularly in areas with limited internet connectivity. It is operated by SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace and defence company. Oman has already approved Starlink, […] May 14, 2025
Telecoms UAE telco Du’s profit up a fifth as subscriber base expands Dubai-listed telecom operator Du’s top and bottom lines rose in the first quarter of 2025, driven by an increase in the subscriber base and the UAE’s economic growth. Revenue grew more than 7 percent year on year to AED4 billion ($1 billion) during the quarter ended March 2025. The mobile customer base increased by 6 […] May 6, 2025
Telecoms Q1 profits and revenue up for Saudi Telecom Company Profits at Saudi Telecom Company (STC) rose in the first quarter of this year, pushing the share price of the kingdom’s biggest telecoms operator to a yearly high. Net profit rose 11 percent year on year to SAR3.6 billion ($973 million) in the first three months of 2025. Revenues for the quarter rose 2 percent […] April 29, 2025
Analysis Markets Market volatility adds allure to utilities and telecoms In a month of wild market swings, Gulf equity investors have felt panic, trepidation, bewilderment and more. With further volatility probable, experts say a prudent strategy is to focus on defensive sectors less exposed to the global economy. Gulf bourses tumbled in early April, along with the US dollar and oil prices, after President Donald […] April 28, 2025
Telecoms Surge in connected devices spurs Omantel revenue growth Omantel, Oman’s largest telecommunications provider, reported a rise in revenue and profitability last year, helped by a strong surge in “Internet of Things” (IoT) subscriptions Revenue at the state-controlled telco rose 4 percent year on year in 2024 to OR920 million ($2.4 billion), driven by strong performance across its business lines. The company recorded significant […] April 25, 2025
Telecoms Egypt to disable imported phones unless users pay tax Owners of imported mobile phones in Egypt will have their devices disabled next week unless they pay tax as part of a drive by Cairo to protect international phone producers operating in Egypt. When the most populous Arab nation invited South Korea’s Samsung and other major smartphone manufacturers to produce their devices in Egypt four […] April 4, 2025
Analysis Telecoms UAE-run Maroc Telecom ends dispute with rival operator Inwi UAE-controlled Maroc Telecom and Inwi, a domestic rival owned by Morocco’s royal family, have settled a long-running dispute and agreed to launch two joint ventures to expand and upgrade the kingdom’s telecom networks. The surprise détente is a significant breakthrough for Maroc Telecom, which has succeeded in reducing the compensation it owed Inwi and fixes […] April 1, 2025
Telecoms Elon Musk’s Starlink starts operations in Oman Oman’s telecom authority has permitted Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service to start retail and commercial operations. The service will cover all regions of Oman, including remote and challenging terrains, offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps, state-run Oman News Agency reported, citing a statement from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Starlink Muscat was given […] March 28, 2025
Telecoms Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala considers selling stake in du Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala may sell its stake in du, the UAE’s second-largest telecom operator by subscribers, which if added to the free float would boost the stock’s chances of being included in emerging market indexes. Admittance to the MSCI and FTSE emerging market benchmarks means that exchange-traded funds which track these measures must […] March 20, 2025
Telecoms Profits fall as Omantel loses subscribers to rivals Profits have fallen at Oman Telecommunications Company after it lost market share to competitors. Omantel, Oman’s largest telecommunications provider, said net profit was down 3 percent last year to $795 million. Market share fell five percentage points in 2024 to 48 percent of a total of 7.1 million subscribers in the country, down from 53 […] March 12, 2025
Telecoms Gulf’s push for 6G networks comes too soon, say telecoms experts Gulf plans to develop sixth-generation networks may be premature given the region’s data use and the lack of an immediate need for ultra-fast 6G, say telecoms experts. Although 5G networks are still being rolled out across the region, the UAE is targeting the start of 6G services before 2030. Saudi Arabia has begun laying the […] March 10, 2025
