*Celtel acquired in Q2 2005

ALREADY a leading cellphone operator in the Middle East and Africa, MTC has set itself the target of becoming a global operator in a period of less than a decade.
Launched by Saad H. Al-Barrak in 2003, an ambitious three-by-three expansion strategy aims to achieve in just nine years what other companies have taken more than 27 years to bring about.
The strategy allocates three years for the completion of each of three stages of progressive development—local, regional, and global. Acquis-itions and partnerships will be an important part of the drive to attract 20 million customers by 2011.
Having established a strong regional presence (see article on facing page), MTC made a major advance in its expansion strategy by acquiring 85% of the subscribed shares of Celtel, the leading sub-Saharan cellular company. The remaining 15% of Celtel will be secured over the next two years.
The move boosts MTC’s customer base to 10.6 million spread across 18 countries—13 of them in Africa—and propels the group into the international arena.
“We have exceeded our targets for the first leg of our 3x3x3 strategy ahead of schedule,” says Dr. Al-Barrak. “Our acquisition of Celtel will help us expand our footprint into Africa.
“The MTC Group strives to be at the heart of the global telecommunications community. We have strengthened our key operating metrics and financial ratios and with the Celtel acquisition, MTC is a leader among its peers.”

MTC provides its customers with the latest hi-tech services.

At the forefront of technological development

MTC is embarking on the next stage of its business development, embracing new technologies and partnerships. The company’s dedication to providing its customers with the most up-to-date services has put it at the forefront of technological development in the region.

MTC-Vodafone Bahrain was launched in 2003 with the first 3G/EDGE nationwide network in the world. Within 18 months, the operation had gained over 165,000 subscribers and taken an approximate 20% market share.

Earlier this year, MTC Vodafone Bahrain was awarded two international certificates by the international verification, testing, and certification company BSI Management Systems: ISO 9001:2000 Quality Manage-ment Systems and BS7799-2:2002, the international standard for Information Security Management Systems.

MTC-Vodafone Kuwait and MTC-Vodafone Bahrain are the only telecommunications operators in the Middle East to be certified to BS 7799-2:2002 with a full organization scope. The accreditation covers all the company’s business processes.