The Pakistani mobile operators Mobilink and Ufone have signed a tower sharing deal.
Mobilink is a subsidiary of the Egypt-based Orascom Telecom Holding, while Ufone is part of the Kuwait-based Etisalat Group.
In a statement yesterday, the two companies…
The Pakistani mobile operators Mobilink and Ufone have signed a tower sharing deal.
Mobilink is a subsidiary of the Egypt-based Orascom Telecom Holding, while Ufone is part of the Kuwait-based Etisalat Group.
In a statement yesterday, the two companies said that by sharing network infrastructure, the two companies would be able to offer wider coverage, drive synergies and reduce their carbon footprint.
Mobilink and Ufone did not reply to questions before the press deadline.
The CEO and President of Mobilink, Rashid Khan, said that the alliance would be mutually beneficial. He said: “This will further enhance Mobilink’s coverage footprint, already the widest, hence, bringing more value to the customer which is our top priority.”
The companies also said that the agreement was in line with the Pakistani government and telecoms authority to encourage cellular providers to drive greater efficiencies while reducing the carbon footprint.
It is an intriguing move given the merger between Wind Telecom, which owns a 51.7% stake in Orascom Telecom Holding, and the Russian telecoms group Vimpelcom, which was announced in March.
Orascom Telecom is a subsidiary of Wind Telecom. One of Vimpelcom’s shareholders, the Norwegian mobile operator Telenor, also provides services in Pakistan through the mobile operator Telenor Pakistan.
A Telenor spokesman told TelecomFinance that Telenor would continue to compete against Orascom in Pakistan, and that the Vimpelcom-Wind deal did not change this.
Orascom did not reply to questions before the press deadline.
