FOR RELEASE ON
October 26, 2007

Contact:
Riaz Asher Siddiqui, Senior Vice President, Network Operators Relations

Tel: +92.51.287.1471
E-mail: asiddiqui(a)samenacouncil.org
URL: www.samenacouncil.org

ETISALAT - NOW A MEMBER OF SAMENA

Casablanca, Morocco — The South Asia – Middle East – North Africa Telecommunications Council has confirmed that the UAE’s Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), which also has significant stakes in Pakistan Telecom Company (PTCL), has joined its internationally expanding members base.

Etisalat, being one of the SAMENA region’s dominant players, has experienced robust growth over the recent past, which is a reflection of the company’s focus on expanding connectivity beyond borders. The operator was one of the few telecom companies that sought expansion outside of the home markets very early on. This experience has proven to be a source of inspiration for M&A ventures that have now started in the regional markets.

Etisalat’s addition to the SAMENA membership can prove to be of significant resourcefulness for the entire area, and to SAMENA’s goal of generating region-wide dialogue between telecoms operators. The company will directly benefit from SAMENA’s innovative and creative approach in the region which plays a vital role in connecting various telecom companies in a unique and dynamic way to foster idea-sharing. This, ultimately, helps to tap new growth potential in the fast-paced marketplace, as is evident from ongoing business agreements that have been reached at the SAMENA platform.

SAMENA Telecommunications Council’s membership platform, since its creation in April 2006, has generated new approaches for better dealing with telecoms and pertinent regulatory challenges as well as for serving growing customer needs in the market.

SAMENA Telecommunications Council welcomes Etisalat and looks forward to working together to introduce innovations within the SAMENA region.

SAMENA Telecommunications Council is a tri-regional, non-profit telecommunications association that embodies a community of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African telecoms operators, manufacturers, regulatory authorities, and academia. SAMENA aims to be the ultimate promoter of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the SAMENA region that spans 25 countries, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine,

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The Council is driven by telecoms issues that operators in South Asia, the Middle East, and in North Africa face, and is determined in providing its advocacy expertise to help aid incubation of novel approaches and ideas that would provide better means for the expansion and utilization of telecommunications in the region.

Headquartered in Dubai, SAMENA is chaired by Dr. Mohammed Ali Al Wohaibi, Executive President, Omantel and is directed by Mr. Thomas W. Wilson, CEO, Teralight.