All Middle East articles
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Innovation (R&D)UAE lab provides blueprint for BT’s university partnerships
BT using success of EBTIC collaboration to inform university partnerships in Ireland and India, building ties with local academics to support Adastral Park R&D. BT‑ and Khalifa University‑backed EBTIC showcases collaborative innovation projects as partnership enters “Phase 3”.
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People
Ex-Vodafone exec to lead Etisalat International
Mikhail Gerchuk takes charge of Etisalat’s international division. Joins Hatem Dowidar, Etisalat Group CEO and fellow Vodafone alumnus.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone Carrier Services flags stc Bahrain tie‑up
Partners aim to ‘drive IP adoption’ in the Middle East. Anticipating “tremendous connectivity growth” in the region.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone’s Omani partnership finally goes live
High-profile Partner Markets ally opens up services and stores. Debut comes followed prolonged setup process. Operator stresses “digital-first” credentials. Group executives welcome debut.
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Partnerships & Alliances
BT renews Middle Eastern partnerships
Long-running R&D tie-up gets extended, with BT’s engagement with Etisalat and Khalifa University stretching a further five years. BT Applied Research MD Tim Whitley among those involved.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone Oman opens new HQ
Partner Markets’ greenfield operator expected to launch services “very soon”. Taps Ericsson for network and Netcracker for BSS.
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Products & Services
Vodafone commences Group wide roll out of ‘Eco‑SIMs’
Group ups ante on waste reduction with launch of recycled SIM chips. ‘Eco‑SIMs’ to be rolled out in 15 territories. Available in UK from spring next year.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Telefónica Tech teams with STC for security services
Strategic collaboration agreement with Saudi operator. Move follows security tie‑ups in Southeast Asia.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodafone Turkey makes next-gen network improvements
5G prep accelerated as Turkish OpCo “future-proofs” backbone network. 400Gbps-capable SuperCore solution deployed, but vendor partner(s) undisclosed. Telco continues march towards 2025 ambition.
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Strategy & Change
BT Global shuts down Kuwait HQ
Division’s rationalisation of Middle Eastern footprint continues as Group confirms closure of Kuwaiti facilities. Residual presence in country — and region — maintained via new reseller alliance with Ooredoo.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone taps DOCOMO Digital for direct carrier billing
Turkish OpCo teams up with long‑time Group enabler to provide customers with payment security on Huawei’s AppGallery marketplace.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Oman appoints CFO
du and Philips form e‑health partnership; Proximus subsumes Mobile Vikings; Vodafone Oman appoints CFO .
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Vendor Voice
Celfocus: Agile mindset and precision key to digitalisation
In an interview with Telefónicawatch, Paulo Trigo, CEO of European telco SI Celfocus, outlines a belief that operators must think more nimbly as they engage in strategic transformation programmes. IT implementation needs greater influence to enable digital transformation. Agile is more than a buzzword and must to be part ...
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: Altice rolls into BT
MTS surfs tower spin‑out wave; SoftBank boosted by digital shift and gets strategic with LEO satellite venture OneWeb.
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M&A
Vodafone Turkey buys into enterprise IT specialist FGS
OpCo takes 50% share of business services provider and frames deal as reflecting Vodafone’s march into “ TechCo ” territory. FGS products to be launched in Vodafone markets outside Turkey.
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Strategy & Change
Elsewhere in Vodafone Partner Markets: du builds Nokia 5G ties
Developments from around Vodafone’s soft-power network: du expands 5G ties with Nokia; new CEO at MTS; Rogers to subsume rival Shaw.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Partner Markets: Vodafone’s scale-up substitute
Federation spanning 46 markets across the globe, with operators in New Zealand, Oman, and Qatar recent adds.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone Oman launch pushed back
Flagship greenfield alliance for Vodafone’s Partner Markets federation continuing to be hit by delays. Bureaucratic hurdle cleared, but launch still appears some months away.
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Partnerships & Alliances
Vodafone’s Omani adventure falling behind schedule
High-touch operational relationship with Vodafone does not appear to have prevented launch programme from backing up. Drags could be a reputational worry for challenged Partner Markets federation, and Group as a whole.
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Enterprise (B2B)
Vodacom Business Africa extends to Middle East
VBA now supporting IP-VPN services in twelve Middle East countries. Major footprint expansion beyond Africa — complementing Vodafone.
