Etisalat and France Telecom agree on a partnership covering strategic technological and marketing fields |
|
Mohmmed Hassan Omran Chairman
? Memorandum of Understanding executed in Paris today between Mohammed Hassan Omran, Chairman, EtisalatEtisalat
, and Didier Lombard, Chairman and CEO, France Telecom? Partnership focused on
- Home networking solutions and Multiplay services
- Content acquisition and distribution
- EtisalatEtisalat and Studio 37 to jointly invest in co-production of movies
- International roaming
- Joint investments in submarines cables
Dubai, UAE, and Paris, France - EtisalatEtisalat and France Telecom today announced their intention to collaborate in a number of fields of strategic importance for the telecommunications industry, notably in Home services, contents, as well as international network. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today in Paris between Mohammad Omran, Chairman of EtisalatEtisalat, and Didier Lombard, Chairman and CEO of France Telecom. In the area of Home networking solutions and multiple-play services, the concept of "Orange Livebox" (home gateway) and "Orange TV" (IPTV offer via set-up-box) rolled out by France Telecom to over 6.8 million customers[1] in Europe will be of interest for EtisalatEtisalat
as it pursues its FTTH (Fibre To The Home) deployment in the UAE. France Telecom, Sagem and Thomson jointly launched SoftAtHome to define standards for triple - play offerings. EtisalatEtisalat is planning to use SoftAtHome solutions to launch multiple-play offers in their markets. Subject notably to the approval of the other shareholders of SoftAtHome, it is the intention of both France Telecom and EtisalatEtisalat that EtisalatEtisalat will become a shareholder of SoftAtHome to get an ability to shape future home networking technology developments. From a Content acquisition and distribution perspective, EtisalatEtisalat
and France Telecom are currently evaluating the opportunity to acquire , aggregate and/or market specific contents to be distributed on their respective footprints. In particular, France Telecom and EtisalatEtisalat will work together so that EtisalatEtisalat can distribute the multi-player online game Warhammer, which is to be released by fall 2008. EtisalatEtisalat and Studio 37, France Telecom's subsidiary dedicated to investing in films, also intend to invest jointly in co-production of movies and audiovisual programs. EtisalatEtisalat
and France Telecom have as well agreed to put in place preferred international roaming within each operator's footprint with the objective to optimise international coverage for their customers, optimise voice and data roaming traffic, improve quality of service and enable innovative services.With significant capacity available in existing submarine and terrestrial cables, EtisalatEtisalat
and France Telecom will also pursue possible joint investments in building capacity to serve areas of strategic interest to both parties such as Western Africa where they both operate including having a better link between Middle East and Europe across the Mediterranean sea.The terms and conditions of the partnership will of course comply with competition rules with specific attention to markets where both groups operate.
According to Mohammed Hassan Omran, Chairman, EtisalatEtisalat
. "We are very pleased at signing this partnership with France Telecom. Both Europe and the Middle East are a nerve centre for technology innovation in the telecom space and characterised by a very demanding customer base. This agreement with France Telecom will leverage the technological expertise and deep customer insight of both companies to offer the latest services to customers in a converged IP environment across the markets we operate in."
Didier Lombard, Chairman and CEO, France Telecom, adds: " We are delighted that EtisalatEtisalat
and France Telecom are becoming partners in a number of fields of strategic importance for our industry.Both companies believe in the convergence of telecommunications services and access to Content as a key enabler for business in mature and emerging markets. This relationship will help us to build on the success that we have had developing Orange into a leader across communications and content. I am particularly pleased that EtisalatEtisalat
intends to become a shareholder in SoftAtHome, and that we will jointly invest with Studio 37 to produce content. "- Ends -
About Etisalat
EtisalatEtisalat
has been the telecommunications service provider in the United Arab Emirates since 1976. Since then, it has built up state-of-the-art telecom infrastructure and taken a leadership position of innovation and reliability among regional and international operators. Today EtisalatEtisalat operates across 16 markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East servicing over 63m customers out of a potential market of 800m.In 2008, the company has grown to become the largest telecommunications company in the Middle East according to market value, and one of the world's largest operators. It is also ranked number 219 in the world, according to the Financial times. At the end of EtisalatEtisalat
's 2007, it had reported consolidated revenues for the period at AED 21.3 billion, showing an increase of approximately 31%, over 2006 figures. Net Profits reached AED 7.2bn, an increase of 25% on 2006.About France Telecom
France Telecom, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, serves more than 172 million customers in five continents as of March 31, 2008, of which two thirds are Orange customers. The Group had consolidated sales of 52.9 billion euros in 2007 (13 billion euros at March 31, 2008). As of March 31, 2008, the Group had 111.9 million mobile customers and 12 million broadband internet (ADSL) customers. Launched in June 2005, the NExT program (New Experience in Telecommunications) will enable the Group to pursue its transformation as an integrated operator and make France Telecom the benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. In 2006, Orange became the Group's single brand for Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates, and Orange Business Services the brand name for services offered to businesses worldwide. France Telecom is the number three mobile operator and the number one provider of broadband internet services in Europe and one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.
France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris and on the New York Stock Exchange. www.orange.com , www.francetelecom.com , www.orange-business.com
For more information, please contact:
Saeed Albadi
Senior Manager Media Relations
Etisalat
Tel: 02 6182173
Fax: 02 6334448
Email: PRD@etisalat.ae
Web: www.etisalat.ae
Beatrice Mandine
Bertrand Deronchaine
France Telecom
Tel: + 33 1 4444 9393
Email: beatrice.mandine@orange-ftgroup.com
Website: bertrand.deronchaine@orange-ftgroup.com
© Press Release 2008
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