Warid Telecom launches its services

According to a press release issued on Thursday, 7 February, this is the fastest set up of the GSM network in the Warid Group that has also been concurrently launched in Congo Brazaville.

The commercial launch follows four weeks after the official inauguration of the company in Kampala recently, which was hosted by the Warid Telecom International His Highness Sheik Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan.

His Highness Sheik Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan said, "We are opening our doors to the public and we expect Uganda to be impressed with the quality of our network and the affordable pricing of voice services."

It said the company has already provided coverage across 211 masts in the various districts of the country.

Warid Telecom International is part of the Abu Dhabi Group Consortium that is one of the largest United Arab Emirates based group of investors participating in investment activities in regions like the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The group has investments in various sectors including information communication technology, banking and finance services, oil and gas exploration, hospitality services, automobile industries and property development.

Warid Telecom International is a telecommunications group that was set up in the year 2004 to acquire, own and operate telecom assets in the emerging markets of Asia and Africa.

In addition to its operation in Pakistan with over 13 million subscribers, the company successfully launched its services in Bangladesh in May 2007 and has attained two million subscribers there already.

The company's country manager Zul Javaid said the company will provide more than 200,000 SIM cards in the 36 customer centres around the country for sh3,000 each (about US$2).

The SIM cards will come loaded with airtime and 50 free SMS within the Warid network.

"In addition, as a special offer, Warid subscribers will be able to call to 467 international destinations at the rate of a local call (sh449 a minute) up to the end of March," he said.

Javaid said the post-paid services and other products will come on line in a few months, but he gave no specific dates.

The company has spent more than sh400 billion to set up its network that will see places between the eastern region and the west switching as well.

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