UAE Telco's New Offering Helps Mobile Operators Quickly Expand the Global Reach of Their Roaming Services

Dubai, UAE, October 20, 2008: Etisalat Carrier and Wholesale Services today unveiled its latest addition to its comprehensive suite of wholesale mobile operator services. Etisalat's Roaming Replicator allows client mobile operators to mirror Etisalat UAE's extensive roaming services to over 510 destinations covering BlackBerry services, 3.5G services, Push Mail, SMS, Voice, MMS and other voice and data services.

The new service was unveiled at the GulfComms exhibition during GITEX technology week to Etisalat's international subsidiaries by the company's Executive Vice President for Carrier & Wholesale.

Ali Amiri, Executive Vice President, Carrier & Wholesale said: "Our Roaming Replicator service is in line with our strategy to provide a comprehensive value added wholesale mobile services portfolio and our drive to GSMA Open Connectivity standards. With the addition of the Roaming Replicator, we are the first Middle East operator to provide advanced mobile wholesale services to the region's growing mobile operator community. The Roaming Replicator complements our signaling, GRX, SMSHub, EDCH Data Clearing house and premium Mobile voice transit services. These services have a common theme which is to support the international services of mobile operators through one connection to etisalat C&WS. These services also provide a strategic advantage to our subsidiaries by providing a quick launch platform for their own roaming services."

Etisalat's subsidiaries in Egypt and Afghanistan are amongst the first operators to benefit from this service. Both operators launched in 2007 and face competition from several established operators. In Afghanistan, Etisalat's operations are increasing its value proposition in a market where price competition is fierce.

Etisalat Afghanistan CEO Saeed Hamad Al Hamli said: "We are committed to providing the right level and variety of services to our customers at the right price. The variety of our roaming agreements allows our business customers greater freedom to travel and conduct business, supporting their productivity and helping to enhance their performance. It is only through the combined strength of the Etisalat group of operators that we are able to bring this and other service innovations to Afghanistan."

Etisalat Egypt is leveraging roaming agreements for mobile broadband and data services to differentiate its services from its competitors.

Eng. Haitham Abdul Razzak, Chief Technology Officer, Etisalat Misr said: "We are leveraging the strengths of the Etisalat group to bring the latest innovations to empower our customers in Egypt. Etisalat was the first company to bring high-speed mobile broadband to Egypt - now using the synergies of our international operations we are able to extend this service to international markets."

Etisalat C&WS is the Middle East's largest comprehensive wholesale services provider of Voice, Data, IP and Value Added Mobile Operator Services.

For further information, please visit www.etisalat.ae.

-Ends-

Press release issued by Corporate Communications Department - Etisalat

For further media information, please contact:
Saeed Al Badi,
Senior Manager,
Media Relations
Tel: 02 6182173        
Fax: 02 6334448
PRD@etisalat.ae      
www.etisalat.ae

© Press Release 2008