Bichara: "OTH believes in Lebanon's Telco sector growth potential and would like to contribute to this growth"

Beirut, Monday 31 of May, 2010: In line with Orascom Telecom continuous support for Alfa, the first mobile operator in Lebanon, Mr. Khaled Bichara, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. visited Beirut on Monday 31st of May along with senior Executives from OTH. The purpose of Mr. Bichara's visit included keeping abreast with changes in the current Lebanese telco environment, exploring avenues for growth, and reviewing the progress of Alfa, managed by Orascom Telecom since February 2009, as well as the upcoming plans Orascom Telecom has for the Lebanese market.

His visit started by an important meeting with HE Minister of Telecommunications, Dr. Charbel Nahhas, where Mr. Bichara reiterated OTH's commitment to the development of the Lebanese Telecom sector, followed by a board meeting with Alfa management and on-ground visits to Alfa operations.

In honor of Mr. Bichara's visit, Mr. Marwan Hayek, Alfa's Chairman and CEO, hosted a lunch at Le Vendome hotel in Beirut which was attended by HE the Ambassador of Egypt in Lebanon, Mr. Ahmad Fouad El Bedyawi, Senior officials from the Ministry of Telecommunications, business partners, Alfa's management and employees. The lunch was an occasion to share Orascom Telecom's vision and strategy for the Lebanese Market with Alfa business partners and to give them insight on how Alfa will operate within the coming few months in light of the progress in the telco sector.

Further, this event was also an opportunity to recognize and honor the "best performers of the quarter" among Alfa employees. In light of their great efforts and contribution, Mr. Bichara distributed to them the "certificate of outstanding achievement" and commended them for their performance. 

Mr. Bichara declared on this occasion "Orascom Telecom is continuously seeking new avenues for growth. In that perspective, Lebanon represents significant opportunities since it is at the stage of rapid development and has major growth potential. As Orascom Telecom Holding, we believe in this potential and would like to contribute to this growth through the Telecom sector in particular which constitutes a corner stone for any long term and lasting economic development. Alfa's management is just the start of our long term cooperation and partnership with the Lebanese government."

Mr. Marwan Hayek, Chairman and CEO of Alfa welcomed Mr. Bichara by saying "Alfa's performance during the first year of operation under the management of Orascom Telecom was impressive. With Orascom Telecom guidance and support Alfa has succeeded to double its subscriber base in less than one year. We, at Orascom Telecom Lebanon believe very much in Lebanon's potential and its human resources, and we are focusing on taking the Lebanese Telco sector to the next level in line with the ambitious plan of the Ministry who wants to re-vitalize this sector by giving it a long term vision and strategy."

It is worth mentioning that "Orascom Telecom Holding" (OTH) is the international leading mobile operator in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and is currently serving almost 96 million subscribers.

-Ends-

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

Alfa capitalizes on OTH 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 51% as of March 31st, 2010. 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 Telecel Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe) and through its subsidiary Telecel Globe, OTH also operates in Burundi, the Central African Republic and Namibia. Orascom Telecom had just under 96 million subscribers as of March 31st, 2010.  

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 further information:
Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E                                  
PR & Corporate Communications Department
otpr@otelecom.com
Visit our website: www.orascomtelecom.com

© Press Release 2010