LONDON, March 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Lebara, a global mobile telecoms network operator, is expected to launch its services in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the second quarter of 2014 after being officially awarded the licence by the industry regulator. This is set to change the country's telecommunications market for the first time in six years.
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is of huge commercial value to both the global and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies and it represents nearly 50% of the GCC's GDP, which in 2012 was valued at US$1.56 trillion*. The mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) is expected to increase in the long term from it currently being US$23.3**, representing a strong opportunity for Lebara. Lebara is continuing to explore additional growth opportunities within the Gulf market with prospective partners.
To launch its brand in the country, Lebara will partner with Mobily (Etihad Etisalat), one of the main Mobile Network Operators (MNO). The change came about after The Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) announced its plans to revolutionise the kingdom's static telecommunications industry. Following a successful bid in June 2013, the CITC gave Lebara and Mobily the green light to begin works to launch the one of the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) there.
Yoganathan Ratheesan, CEO of Lebara Group, commented "We are excited about Lebara's next stage of growth into the Gulf market. Lebara will initially and primarily provide low-cost and high quality mobile communication services to the migrant community and those with loved ones abroad, under its existing trusted brand, a market-leader in key countries across Europe and in Australia. Lebara aims to prosper within and beyond the region to provide more products and services that help customers stay connected to their loved ones all over the globe."
London-based Lebara Group has operations in the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Australia. Lebara's vision is to become the brand of choice for 1 billion people around the world by 2020.
Lebara has won several industry awards over the last 12 months to celebrate the MVNO's commercial success and distinctive customer service within the telecoms sector. These include Best MVNO for five consecutive years and Best Community & Social Enterprise, two years running, at the Mobile News Awards 2014, Best Large Contact Centre at the European Call Centre and Customer Service Awards 2013, Best Large Contact Centre at the UK Customer Experience Awards 2013 and Best for Customer Service, Customer Engagement category, at the Peer Awards 2013. Lebara also won Best MVNO at the Mobile Industry Awards 2013.
* TradeArabia News Service - http://www.tradearabia.com/news/BANK_230964.html
**Lebara KSA Consortium analysis.
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