Wednesday 30 May 2012

Ex-Zain CEO urges Gulf telcos to merge, privatize | Reuters

Gulf telecoms companies, most of which are ultimately government-controlled, must further privatize and consolidate to survive in an increasingly tough environment, the former chief executive of Kuwait's Zain (ZAIN.KW) said on Tuesday.

Saad al-Barrak led Zain's rise over the last decade, turning it from a former monopoly operator with fewer than a million subscribers to a global player with operations in 23 countries.

Outspoken and flamboyant in a sector with a dominant culture of secrecy, Barrak's strategy of expansion was imitated by rival operators, but regional telecoms firms must now adapt again, he warned, as falling voice margins weigh heavy on the bottom line.

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