Dubai, December 30, 2013 -- SAMENA Telecommunications Council has announced that Alfa has become the first mobile operator from Lebanon to join SAMENA Council, a telecom council with 90-plus registered organizations.

Alfa, founded in 1994, is the brand name of the MIC1 mobile network which is owned by the Republic of Lebanon. Alfa was the first Lebanese mobile operator to introduce a GSM network in the country, making mobile services available to the Lebanese in the early 90's. The operator has been managed by Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (OTMT) since February 2009. OTMT has been putting its wide expertise and international exposure in the telecom field at the service of Alfa in order to deliver a global and professional solution for the GSM sector in Lebanon. Alfa currently serves over 1.85 million subscribers and its network covers 99% of Lebanon.

Alfa was the first operator to launch 4G LTE services in Lebanon this year after being the first to introduce 3G+ mobile services at the end of 2011. It is worth mentioning that the launching of 3G+ technology as well as the launch of 4G LTE technology were both milestones for Lebanon's mobile sector that have put it back on the regional telecom map.

Mr. Bocar BA, CEO of the SAMENA Council appreciated Alfa's interest in the SAMENA Council and said, "Alfa is the first mobile operator from Lebanon to join the SAMENA Council and this development will nurture the Council's initiatives including Digitization, convergence of regulation, and sustainable Internet business models in helping build digital economies."

Chairman and CEO of Alfa, Marwan Hayek, said: "We are proud to join SAMENA Telecommunications Council. Alfa's operations have been centered on innovation over the past years. Joining this prestigious council is an opportunity for us to share our growth and impressive development with operators across the SAMENA region as well as further enhance our mutual cooperation. We look forward to this partnership and we do hope it will be for the benefit of both organizations."

SAMENA Telecommunications Council's membership platform, since its creation, has generated new approaches for better dealing with telecoms and pertinent regulatory challenges as well as for serving growing customer needs in the market.

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About SAMENA Telecommunications Council
SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a tri-regional, non-profit telecommunications association that represents over 40 telecommunications operators in 25 markets, representing an aggregate subscriber base of 790 million mobile users, including mobile broadband users, 79 million fixed-line users, and 22 million broadband users. The Council's membership embodies a community of telecom operators, manufacturers, government bodies, academia, and leading global management consultancy organizations. SAMENA's Board of Directors and member companies include the largest regional operators and global multi-network operators as well as new competitive entrants. SAMENA focuses on digitization and broadband investment policies, and aims to promote beneficial regulation and governance that further industry evolution, as well as cooperation among key ICT industry stakeholders. For further information, please visit www.samenacouncil.org or contact SAMENA Communication at +97143642700 or email to (communications@samenacouncil.org).

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© Press Release 2013