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UAE's mobile phone users climb 18% to 16.5mn at end-January 2014 [IntelliNews - Weekly Reports](IntelliNews - Weekly Reports Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The UAE's mobile phone subscriber base grew 17.8% y/y to 16.5mn at end-January 2014 from nearly 14mn the year before, data from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority showed. The reading translated into a 196.7% penetration rate. Pre-paid subscribers accounted for the bulk at 14.25mn (87% of the total). Post-paid users reached 2.149mn. Fixed-line users totalled 2.09mn at end-January (25.1% penetration rate). Internet users in the UAE rose 8.5% y/y to 1.051mn over the period (12.6% penetration rate), with broadband users accounting for the bulk at 1.049mn Etisalat and Du control the UAE's telecom market. The federal government has no plans to award operating licences to new telecom providers by 2015, according to earlier reports. In March, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (Du) signed three separate financing deals totalling USD 1.17bn. The deals include refinancing existing debt facilities on more favourable terms in addition to USD 250mn worth of new facilities to finance future capital expenditure. The deals have also cut Du's funding costs, saving nearly USD 9mn due to the favourable margins agreed with lenders. (c) 2014 Emerging Markets Direct Media Holdings LLC Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |