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Arthur D. Little-Dubai Internet City Urge MENA Telecoms Operators to Consider Business Case for Carbon Management

Report Reveals MENA Telecom Operators Could Gain Competitive Advantage by Addressing Carbon Issue
Dubai: 4 November, 2009 - Telecom operators in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have yet to fully realize how much energy and carbon management will positively impact their future growth, according to a report released today by Dubai Internet City, the region's largest managed ICT cluster and a member of TECOM Investments, and Arthur D. Little, an international management consulting firm.

Telecom operators typically rank amongst top electricity consumers, and with power demands often outpacing production in the region, MENA operators currently rely on carbon-intensive diesel generators for 60 per cent of their electricity needs. The survey indicates a need for the MENA telecom industry to pay more attention to future carbon regulations as the industry comes under increasing pressure to reduce emissions by a further 20 per cent.

Malek Al Malek, Executive Director, Dubai Internet City, said: "The impact of energy and carbon emissions on the environment has become a global challenge and it will be interesting to see how the findings of this report will bring telecom operators one step closer to achieving sustainable development for the region's economy.

"The report identifies opportunities that telecom operators can explore to not only demonstrate their commitment to global sustainability but also incorporate energy and carbon management into their business models. Partnering Arthur D. Little on this sustainable development initiative marks our belief that the ICT industry must take a leading role in innovation for the low-carbon economy."

Most regional operators still view measures to optimize energy efficiency as a cost issue and have yet to consider carbon emissions as a major risk to their business in the long term.

David Vassallo, Partner in Arthur D. Little, Global Sustainability and Risk Practice, said: "While global telecoms and technology players such as British Telecom and Nokia are seeking proactive solutions to carbon and energy management, telecom providers in the MENA region still need to step up their game and address the opportunities and risks associated with a low-carbon business environment."

The report offers recommendations for regional telecom operators to gain a competitive advantage through developing green product strategies and integrating green initiatives into their operations.

Dubai Internet City has established a reputation for its pioneering concepts and continues to support initiatives that provide growth opportunities for the technology industry in the region.

Download the full Report from: www.adlittle.com/telcocarbonstudy or www.dubaiinternetcity.com/telcoreport/

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Acknowledgement
Arthur D.Little and Dubai Internet City would like to thank most sincerely the operators taking part in this survey for their valuable time and contribution: Batelco, Maroc Telecom , Mobinil, MTC Touch, Nawras, Ogero Telecom, Omantel, Orange, Qtel, Vodafone Egypt, Zain (Kuwait and Bahrain)

About Dubai Internet City
Dubai Internet City (DIC), a member of TECOM Investments, was established in 2000. It is currently regarded the Middle East's largest information and communications technology (ICT) cluster. Built as a strategic base for companies targeting emerging markets in several neighbouring regions, DIC's core focus area extends from the Middle East to the Indian Subcontinent, and from Africa to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), covering nearly three billion people with a GDP of over US$10 trillion. As a knowledge-oriented business model, DIC has created a dynamic international community of IT companies hosting business partners that include some of the Fortune 500 brands, as well as a number of small and medium enterprises and ventures. In 2008, 140 new companies joined the DIC cluster. For more information, please visit: www.dubaiinternetcity.com

About Arthur D. Little
Arthur D. Little, founded in 1886, is a global leader in management consultancy; linking strategy, innovation and technology with deep industry knowledge. We offer our clients sustainable solutions to their most complex business problems. Arthur D. Little has a collaborative client engagement style, exceptional people and a firm-wide commitment to quality and integrity. The firm has over 30 offices worldwide. With its partner Altran Technologies Arthur D. Little has access to a network of over 16,000 professionals. Arthur D. Little is proud to serve many of the Fortune 100 companies globally, in addition to many other leading firms and public sector organizations. For further information please visit: www.adl.com

For further information, please contact:
Angelina Wong
Associate Account Manager
JIWIN Public Relations
Tel: + 971 4 369 2834
Email: Angelina.wong@jiwin.ae

© Press Release 2009