The Emirates Telecommunication Company (Etisalat) had allocated 4.1 billion Emirati dirhams ($1.1 billion) for various development and expansion schemes over the next two years, announced Minister of Communication and Chairman of Etisalat Board, Ahmad Hamid Al-Tayar, according to Al-Bayan.
Addressing the 21st assembly of the national carrier’s board of directors, the minister added that a large portion of this budget would be invested in expanding and renewing local GSM networks, in a bid to raise their capacity to 2.5 million users. An upgrading project for the local Internet services network is expected to enable support of 500,000 users.
According to official figures, the number of existing telephone lines in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) grew from 36,000 in 1976 to 1.02 million lines by the end of August 2001. The number of the operating telephone switching stations in the country jumped from 38 to 256 stations during the same period. Presently, overseas telephone services are available to 256 countries throughout the world, compared with 36 countries in 1976.
Local Internet subscribers amounted to 250,000 in August 2001, reflecting a 65 percent increase from August 2000. Leased Internet lines grew by 126 percent and the Internet network hosting services grew by 263 percent during the same time. — (Mena Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
