Warid Telecom
United Arab Emirates telecommunication company held by Abu Dhabi Group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Warid Telecom International (Arabic: وارد تليكوم الدولية) was an Emirati telecommunications company that was active in Bangladesh, Georgia, Congo, Pakistan, and Uganda before its divestment.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunication |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Defunct | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
Key people | Sheikh Al Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman Bashir Tahir, founding CEO |
| Products | Telephony, LTE, WiMAX, EDGE, GPRS, GSM, UMTS |
| Subsidiaries | |
Pakistan
In 2004, Warid Telecom International LLC, purchased a license for operating a nationwide mobile telephony network, (WLL) and long-distance international (LDI) for US$291 million and was the first venture of Warid Telecom International LLC. The license was bid for and acquired by a team led by Bashir Tahir the former CEO of the Abu Dhabi Group, which is the parent company of all Warid operations.[1]
Warid Pakistan launched its services in May 2005. Within 80 days of launch, Warid Pakistan claims to have attracted more than 1 million users.[2]
On June 30, 2007, Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) and Warid Telecom announced that they had entered into a definitive agreement subsequent to which SingTel would acquire a 30 percent equity stake in Warid Telecom for an estimated $758 million, valuing the company at an enterprise value of $2.9 billion.[3]
SingTel sold back that stake in January 2013 for $150 million and a right to receive 7.5 percent of the net proceeds from any future sale, public offering, or merger of Warid.[4]
On November 26, 2015, VimpelCom and Abu Dhabi Group agreed to merge Mobilink and Warid into a single company called Jazz.[5]
Network technology
Bangladesh
In December 2005, Warid Telecom International LLC obtained a 15-year GSM license to operate as the sixth mobile phone operator in Bangladesh for $50 million. Warid Bangladesh started rolling out its network from mid-2006, and launched commercial operations on May 10, 2007, covering 26 districts. It uses the code 16 preceded by the code number of Bangladesh +880. Warid Bangladesh acquired a million subscribers within 70 days of launch.
Warid Telecom sold 70% of its stake in Bangladesh operations to India's Bharti Airtel for $300 million receiving regulatory approval from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on January 4, 2010.[6]
On December 20, 2010, Warid Telecom was rebranded as Airtel.
Georgia
Ivory Coast
Licence awarded.[8]
Republic of Congo
Uganda
Planned to launch services in Uganda by the fourth quarter of 2007. Warid is also set to deploy a WiMAX network throughout Uganda through its sister concern Wateen Telecom.[12] Acquired by Airtel in 2013.[13]
Network technology
| Network | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSM 900/1800 | Live/Active | January, 2008 | [11] |
| WiMAX | Live/Active | unknown |