Ugandans have new telecoms operator

Hundreds of mobile phone subscribers turned up at various Warid Telecom customer care centers accross the country to book their preferred numbers on the 070 network which is due to start its commercial operations at the end of January this year.

Kampala - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and Sheik Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the Chairman Warid Telecom and the Abu Dhabi Group of companies, officially inaugurated the telecommunication service provider. The lunch too place at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort in Kampala.

Nahayan said, “We are looking forward to the opportunity of having a positive impact on people's lives. We will provide effective mobile communication and WiMax (fast wireless broadband internet access) solutions that can be used in industries and intuitions to grow and prosper.” He said that the company's success was made possible by the contribution of the company's talented Ugandan staff, with “with special skills and strong work ethic.”

Up to 600 individuals will be employed directly by the company in its first year of operation while “Providing indirect employment to many thousands through our subcontractors and distributors of our services,” said Nahayan. Over 300,000 people are now directly and indirectly employed by the nation's telecommunications sector. Warid plans to invest heavily in training and promoting local staff in Uganda.

The company will actually lunch it services later, but plan to reach up to 75% of the Ugandan population.

“ICTs are increasingly powerful tools for participating in the global market, promoting political accountability, improving the delivery of basic services and enhancing local development opportunities,” said Ugandan President Museveni.

“They create digital opportunities which are a key component in addressing the. Achieving the MDGs is possible, if there is consistent, committed as well as targeted investment in and mainstreaming ICTs for development,” he said.

“With the new player becoming operational, we expect much more competition and reduction in the cost of access to telecommunication services,” he added.

Uganda's landline and mobile phone subscribers' customer base n has been predicted to rise above the current 4.7 million. This will, however, be easily achieved if President Museveni fulfils his promise to address the high cost of taxes on services such as airtime and interconnection fees.

Warid joins MTN, Celtel and Uganda Telecom in the Ugandan market. Hits telecom, another new player, has only tested its first calls and is yet to officially launch its operations. Warid also operates in Bangladesh, Pakistan and United Arab Emirates.