Case Study

Etisalat

* Introduction:

• Etisalat is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world and the leading operator in the Middle East and Africa, headquartered in the UAE. Etisalat is the Middle East's largest operator and the GCC's third largest corporation. With a market value of approximately Dhs. 84 billion (USD 23 billion) and annual revenues of over Dhs. 31 billion (USD 8.5 billion) Etisalat is today on the verge of being numbered amongst the top ten operators in the world.

Etisalat is a multinational, blue-chip organisation with operations in eighteen countries across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, servicing over 140 million customers out of a total population of approximately two billion people. An estimated 2 million people benefit from regular work supplying Etisalat or its customers, including 53,000 who are directly employed by the company. Etisalat now has access to a population of more than two billion and its satellite network provides services over two thirds of the planet's surface.

Etisalat's international acquisition programme began in earnest in 2004 by winning the second mobile license, and first 3G license, in Saudi Arabia. Since then the company has witnessed rapid expansion positioning Etisalat as one of the world's fastest growing operators with its subscriber numbers rocketing more than 2,500% from 4 million in 2004 to 118 million at the end of 2010.

For nearly 40 years, Etisalat has helped the UAE sustain a position as the region's hub for business, trade and foreign investment by providing reliable and high quality services. It is one of the global telecommunication industry's innovation pacesetters powering its home country, the UAE, into the top ten nations list by providing the latest technologies first. In 2010 for example, thanks to Etisalat, the UAE was one of the first five countries worldwide with a 3DTV service offered across Etisalat's fiber optic network - eLife....