TTE, a telecommunications solutions integrator in Tunisia, and member of One Tech Group, and Alcatel-Lucent have signed a partnership agreement for supplying enterprise voice and data solutions in Libya and Tunisia.
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The partnership positions Alcatel-Lucent as a reference supplier of network infrastructure, IP telephony, call centers, applications and services. The company said that the two organizations will work together to offer communication services while enabling network infrastructure to help businesses and governments increase competitiveness.

The services supplied by TTE also include automation and remote management services for water, oil and gas. Integrated services in fields such as security, video-surveillance and geo-localization are also supported by TTE.

Lamia Fourati-Ben Jaafar, CEO of TTE, said: “This partnership expands the range of products and allows to offer suitable services for our clients, including banks, small- and medium-sized business and public institutions. Our services include engineering, integration, implementation and maintenance."

In the first week of November 2008, Alcatel-Lucent said that the company has been selected by ARIA, as prime supplier for building and maintaining a nation-wide wireless broadband network based on WiMAX 802.16e-2005 (Rev-e) technology.

This network will enable ARIA to provide municipalities, businesses, small office/home office (SoHo) and residential users with access to the Internet as well as advanced broadband multimedia services, such as video streaming. In a second phase of the project, ARIA plans to introduce voice over IP (VoIP) and virtual private network (VPN) services.

Via [CBR networking]

This event is supported by organizations and institutions of international renown in the field of CRM and Customer Relationship and the support of prestigious media.
The 2008 edition of Convergence Expo this year is articulated around three main themes, the success of the Customer Relationship Strategy, offering offshore call centers and Tunisians Any IT or new picture of Client Relations.

Go to [Convergences Expo website]

On the recurrent dilemma of volume versus value, Eric Kerbouriou of Tunisiana, owned by Egypt’s Orascom Telecom, stressed the necessity to strike a balance. He argued that loyalty programs to retain high-value customers needs to accompany the expansion of services to low cost users.

Country strategy examples from Sudan, Tunisia and Lebanon were followed by a presentation on the advantages of infrastructure sharing to cut costs.

Comprising Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia, the region had 102 million subscriptions at end of 2007, but penetration remains low at just below 50 percent, according to a statement from Informa.

Tunisia seems to be in the heart of the communications recolution.

Via [Daily News Egypt]

Many of the poorer countries in the region have vast swathes of their land not covered by GSM or any other connectivity. Sierra Leone, to pick one random example, has no coverage except in and around its capital, Freetown. It is wise not to expect coverage when travelling outside major urban centres, even to some large towns.

Having said that, some vast areas have been covered by pioneering operators who cannot rely on the sort of infrastructure taken for granted in much of the rest of the world - a reliable national electricity grid to power base stations, for example.

South Africa, Swaziland and Tunisia are among the most covered countries geographically, again by GSM. South Africa is the only major country to have launched W-CDMA.

Via [Silicon.com]

There's no surprise that Tunisia comes among the best networks in Africa as the competition between Tunisiana and Tunisie Telecom was based in three major facts: prices, services and network coverage. i have been traveling the country all around for years in my former job and the cover was always excellent even in the most far places.

Figures recently released by the Ministry of Communication Technologies reveal a significant growth of mobile phone and internet users in Tunisia. In June 2008 the two mobile phone operators (Tunisie Telecom and Tunisiana) had a combined 8.12 million mobile phone subscribers up from 7 million twelve months earlier.

At the same point, there were 2.68 million internet users compared to 1.68 million in June 2007. The number of ADSL connections has doubled from 76,000 in 2007 to 153,000 in 2008. 27% of users have 512KB connections, and 22,000 users have a connection equal or superior to 1Mbps.

The number of companies benefiting from WiMAX connections reached 700 at the end of June 2008, and the number of subscribers to data sending through VSAT had also increased to reach 420, notably among enterprises producing software and computer systems and call centres.

Via [TeleGeography]

The GSMA just announced that entries are invited for the 2009 Global Mobile Awards and the penultimate round of its Mobile Innovation Global Competition, both of which will be presented at the mobile industry’s biggest annual event, the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on 17 February 2009.

The GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards are a unique platform for companies in the mobile industry to gain truly independent recognition for their work.

This year’s awards incorporate several new categories including a new ‘Green Mobile’ Award (highlighting eco-friendly mobile products, services and initiatives), Best Mobile Internet, Best Mobile TV Service and Best Mobile Money Service.

The Best Mobile Technology categories have been refreshed to ensure they capture the wealth of creativity and imagination in the mobile industry. Categories of Mobile Entertainment, Mobile Services, and Best Mobile Handset, are already established as highly desirable awards for any new product or service.

The deadline for entries for the Global Mobile Awards is Friday 28 November 2008 (5.00pm GMT). A panel of independent analysts, journalists and specialist experts will choose the winners, who will receive their awards at a gala dinner at the National Palace in Barcelona on Tuesday 17 February 2009, during the Mobile World Congress.

The GSMA’s commitment to innovation is supported by the Mobile Innovation Market community, which has created the Mobile Innovation Global Award Competition. The Mobile Innovation Market encourages breakthrough technology, applications and services in the mobile industry by bringing together smaller companies developing innovative products and solutions, with industry investors from leading venture capital firms and senior figures from mobile operators and leading global brands.

On 16 February at the Mobile World Congress, the Top 15 Innovators will present their ideas in front of the Mobile Innovation Marketplace audience and a panel of esteemed judges; from the five Category Winners to be named that day, two will emerge as global finalists and will compete against other Global Finalists selected from regional Mobile Innovation tournaments in the Americas, APAC and a virtual ‘online’ round.

The finalists will then compete head-to-head on 17 February for the prestigious title of ‘2009 GSMA Mobile Innovation Global Champion’ to be awarded at the Global Mobile Awards Gala that evening. The deadline for entries for the Mobile Innovation EMEA tournament is 5 December, 2008.

For more details on the categories, rules, entry forms and more, you can check out the following links: Global Mobile Awards and Mobile Innovation Awards.

Via [Startup Arabia]

According to Swedish case maker Krusell, the Top 10 selling mobile phones in June 2008 were:
1. (8) Apple iPhone
2. (5) HTC Diamond
3. (3) Nokia E51
4. (2) Nokia 6300
5. (1) Nokia 3109
6. (9) LG KU990
7. (6) Nokia N95 8 GB
8. (4) Sony Ericsson K810i
9. (-) Sony Ericsson K530i
10. (10) Sony Ericsson W890i
() = Last month's position.

At the moment, many companies in the Accessory industry are loading their warehouses with iPhone accessories just waiting for the European launch of the 3G version on July 11.

The list is based upon the number of pieces of model specific mobile and smart phone cases that have been ordered from Krusell during June 2008. Krusell's list is unique due to the fact that it reflects the sales of phones on six continents and in more than 50 countries around the globe.

Via [TNC Net]