UAE startup Quiqup closes over $5.5m in funding to pursue expansion

Quiqup is currently working with more than 800 brands in the UAE

u.ae government website

Record growth in users of official UAE government portal from January-October: TRA

It recorded a 50.73 per cent year-on-year increase over the 6.54 million users recorded in the same period in 2019

Western Union buys $200m stake in Saudi Telecom unit

Western Union Co. acquired a 15 per cent stake in stc pay

Saudi women phone

Saudi to provide 60,000 additional free wifi points, including at the two Holy Mosques

The initiative will see free wifi provided at hospitals, malls and public parks across the country

Ericsson to help set up 5G, IoT innovation centre in Oman

Oman aims to diversify the country’s economy away from hydrocarbons

How smartphones are bridging the gap between the present and the future

Next generation 5G technology adds a vital cog in a mobile-centric future already underway

Etisalat

UAE’s Etisalat recognised as world’s fastest mobile network

Previously, Etisalat won the Speedtest Awards for fastest mobile network worldwide in Q1-Q2 and Q2-Q3 2020

UAE telco Etisalat reports 6% rise in net profit for Q3 2020

Etisalat’s consolidated revenue for Q3 2020 amounted to Dhs13bn

Mobile Phone

UAE telecom subscribers pegged at 21.808 million at the end of August

Pre-paid mobile phone subscriptions totalled 13.107 million, while post-paid mobile phone subscriptions stood at 3.578 million at the end of August

iPhone 12

UAE’s Etisalat to offer iPhone 12 pre-orders from Oct 16

The latest generation of iPhones were launched by Apple earlier this week

Ericsson R&D hub in Egypt ships first locally-developed AI software

Cognitive software reduces complexity in network operations

Omantel is said to explore a $500m sale of tower network

It reported a 28 per cent drop in first-half profit, hurt by a sharp slowdown in economic activity

UAE telecom operator du appoints new acting CEO, managing director

Du has appointed Fahad Al Hassawi as its acting CEO

Saudi Telecom

Saudi Telecom said to weigh IPO for internet-services unit

Saudi Telecom is considering selling as much as 30 per cent of the unit

Vivo launches global mobile photography competition

Winners to be entered in international photography competitions

Saudi Telecom seeks to cut $2.39bn offer for Vodafone Egypt

STC had said that the offer gives the Egyptian business an enterprise value of $4.35bn

New gaming phone RedMagic 5S set for GCC debut

Dedicated gaming smartphone to be available across the region from September.

Samsung launches new Galaxy Note20 devices, UAE prices revealed

Prices start at Dhs3,549 for the non-5G Galaxy Note20

Microsoft to launch cloud mobile gaming service in September, to cost $15

Microsoft xCloud available in select markets from 15 September on Android

Huawei p30 pro

Huawei becomes world’s top smartphone vendor in FY Q2 2020

The majority of Huawei’s phone sales from April-June was in China

Microsoft, TikTok deal on hold as Donald Trump mulls US ban

US alleges ByteDance could turn over Americans’ user data to the government in China

Shailesh Dash main

Phi Trends: The business implications of 5G

Investors must keep a lookout for stocks with game-changing potential, which inevitably will tap into 5G and enable future growth prospects, opines entrepreneur and investor Shailesh Dash

Huawei launches mid-range Nova series 5G phone in the UAE, price revealed

The smartphone comes with AppGallery, Huawei’s official app marketplace

How should the regional telecom industry navigate the Covid-19 reality

Telecommunication companies are an essential part of the overall pandemic solution, and all should reaffirm their unique position to help people during this crisis

Etisalat

Etisalat Group reports Dhs4.6bn consolidated net profit for H1 2020, up 3% y-on-y

However, consolidated revenues of the UAE’s biggest telecom operator decreased 1 per cent to Dhs25.6bn

Tata Communications granted local ISP, telecom licence in Saudi

Licence allows change of status from a foreign carrier to local licenced service provider

Oppo updates VOOC range of chargers; can charge 4,000mAh battery in 20 minutes

Increased consumption of power-hungry applications presents new energy challenges to phone users

Omantel taps Ericsson to expand 5G across the sultanate

Telco to connect the Salalah, Nizwa and Surto areas to high-speed 5G network

Virgin Mobile UAE launches reward programme for customers

Accumulated points are converted monthly upon plan renewal and added to the Virgin Mobile in-app wallet

TRA to shutdown 2G network across UAE by 2022

UAE service providers will provide support to groups that may be affected by the shutdown