Telecom operator Zain Group today said it made an investment of $797 million in 2015 targeting 3G and 4G network expansion upgrades across operations.
The Capex of $797 million by Zain Group excludes telecom market in Saudi Arabia. The Capex of Zain reflects 21 percent of Group revenues. Zain Group has 45.6 million subscribers (+3 percent) in eight telecom markets across the Middle East and Africa.
Zain Group chairman Asaad Al Banwan said: “We have invested significantly in 3G and 4G network expansion upgrades and spectrum license fees across all our markets in order to improve the mobile experience for our customers.”
Thanks to its investments in 3G and 4G LTE network expansion and upgrades, Zain data revenues (excluding SMS and VAS) rose 15 percent in 2015, representing 20 percent of total revenues.
Zain Group’s revenue was $3.78 billion (–6 percent) with a net income $513 million (–21 percent) in 2015.
Revenues of Zain was $933 million (–3 percent) with a net income of $119 million (+8 percent) in Q4 2015.
Zain Group generated $1.1 billion in Kuwait, $1.22 billion (–24 percent) in Iraq, $717 million (+7 percent) in Sudan, $1.86 billion (+8 percent) in Saudi Arabia, $459 million (–2 percent) in Jordan and $191 million (–2 percent) in Bahrain.
4G data revenue booms
Zain Kuwait’s 4G LTE network data revenues form 36 percent of total revenues, reflecting 8 percent growth.
Data revenue in Iraq formed 7 percent of the total revenues, increasing at 34 percent.
Zain’s data revenues in Sudan formed 11 percent of total revenues, growing at 102 percent.
The telecom operator posted 58 percent rise in data revenues in Saudi Arabia, representing 25 percent of total revenues as the company invested and expanded its 4G LTE network.
With the launch of 4G services in Jordan, data revenues of Zain represented 29 percent of total revenues, growing 18 percent.
Zain Bahrain has invested more than $100 million in 4G networks. As a result, data revenues increased 11 percent, representing 33 percent of overall revenues.
