Alfa Introduces Data Roaming Service to Postpaid Subscribes

Beirut - 20 April 2010: Day after day, Alfa marks significant steps forward in enhancing telecom mobile communication in Lebanon. As part of it expansion strategy and in response to the needs of its growing subscriber base, Alfa, the mobile operator managed by Orascom Telecom since February 2009, launched a new  "Data Roaming" service for its postpaid roaming lines' owners.

Responding to the growing challenges of mobile communication and as the need to stay connected "anytime and anywhere" is becoming a necessity, Alfa is providing its postpaid residential and business roaming subscribers the possibility  to access Mobile Internet, WAP, and BlackBerry® services, in addition to sending MMS from their handsets while they are abroad.  This service allows mobile-phone users to stay updated with the stock market, daily news in addition to internet surfing and chatting as well as music and video downloading.  

Alfa's CEO Marwan Hayek said "Alfa, under the management and continuous support of OTH, is proud to join leading worldwide operators to ensure global coverage for Alfa's postpaid subscribers through introducing the Data roaming service. Hayek added "This service, added to many others that Alfa launched since OTH took management over the company in February 2009, is in line with our ambitious plans to develop and enhance mobile data services in Lebanon while improving overall customer experience and satisfaction."

In this regard, Hayek mentioned that "Today, we are pleased to introduce the Data roaming service for Alfa's postpaid roaming subscribers as it meets our ultimate aim of providing convenience and peace of mind for business travelers. As always, we will strive to work towards providing the most comprehensive and cost effective mobile communications and mobile data roaming services for our subscribers with other prospect services to be launched soon from Alfa."

The Data roaming service is being offered free of charge upon the request of postpaid roaming subscribers. However, additional charges are incurred on the MB usage per subscriber per country where it varies according to the foreign country the subscriber is roaming from. The activation is simple and requires Alfa's postpaid subscribers to add "Roaming" service and Mobile Internet, WAP, or/and BlackBerry ® service for Data Roaming activation.

This service has been activated with leading operators worldwide, to ensure global coverage for Alfa's clients base. Detailed information about Data Roaming operators is currently available, along with the applicable rates for the country that postpaid subscribers are intending to roam from on the Alfa's website: www.alfa.com.lb. 

It's worth mentioning that "Orascom Telecom Holding" (OTH) is the international leading mobile operator in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and counts almost 93 million subscribers.

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About Alfa
Alfa is the brand name of the Lebanese mobile network managed by "Orascom Telecom Holding" (OTH) since February 2009.

Alfa capitalizes on its expertise in the telecom field in order to deliver a global and professional solution for the GSM sector in Lebanon. Alfa has over one million subscribers.

For more information: www.alfa.com.lb

About Orascom Telecom
Orascom Telecom is a leading international telecommunications company operating GSM networks in high growth markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 510 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of approximately 49% as of December 31st, 2009. Orascom Telecom operates GSM networks in Algeria ("OTA"), Pakistan ("Mobilink"), Egypt ("Mobinil"), Tunisia ("Tunisiana"), Bangladesh ("banglalink"), North Korea ("koryolink") and Canada ("Wind Mobile") through its indirect equity shareholding in Globalive Wireless. In addition it has an indirect equity ownership in Telecom Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe) and through its subsidiary Telecel Globe; OTH also operates in Burundi, the Central African Republic and Namibia. Orascom Telecom had almost 93 million subscribers as of December 31st, 2009.

Orascom Telecom is traded on the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange under the symbol (ORTE.CA, ORAT EY), and on the London Stock Exchange its GDR is traded under the symbol (ORTEq.L, OTLD LI).

For more information please visit: www.orascomtelecom.com 

For further information, please contact
Dima Masri
Account Manager
Weber Shandwick Beirut
Tel: 01 428 428
Email: dima.masri@ws-mena.com

© Press Release 2010