By
Telecom Lead Team:
Mobile major Reliance Communications has stopped Etisalat DB Telecom, a joint
venture of Emirates Telecommunications and DB Realty, from using its telecom
towers because of a delay in getting payments for the service.
Etisalat DB
Telecom offers wireless phone services in 15 of 22 telecom service circles in
India. In 2009, Etisalat DB entered into a 10-year deal worth about $2.2
billion to use Reliance Communications’ towers.
“Despite
repeated reminders, payments have been inordinately delayed by Etisalat DB
without any reasonable cause,” a Reliance Communications spokesman told
Dow Jones Newswires.
Etisalat
DB’s service is facing network disruption across India beginning this weekend.
The disruption was due to a technical issue beyond its control, Services are
expected to be resumed soon, the spokeswoman of Etisalat DB.
Etisalat DB
has 1.67 million users across India and held a 0.26 percent market share at the
end of December, according to data from industry body Cellular Operators
Association of India.
Recently Etisalat appointed
Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar as Group CEO, a newly created role, which is part of
the company’s expansion plans.
Etisalat Middle East appoints Group CEO to further expansion
plans
In his new role, Julfar will
head the team of 18 existing Etisalat CEOs, in 18 different around the world.
Before being promoted to this position, Julfar served as the COO of Etisalat
since 2006. Prior to that, he served as the GM for the operator’s Dubai
operations. He has also served in several other managerial posts in the
company, since his joining Etisalat in 1986.
