I have been following this thread ever since Mr. Byaruhanga posted this one and allow me to make a few comments. 1) In my humble experience, I have noticed that many of the ardent Linux users and followers(hence the bulk of the LUGers) are strongly linked to the communication industry either in form of direct employment or indirectly through their employment organisations dealing with communication companies, so I think LUGers discussing and expressing their opinions on how these companies are behaving is entirely in order. 2) How a company handles its voice telephony i.e charges(where the current thread falls), technology, breadth of coverage and others can give you a BIG HINT on how its going to handle data services in the same areas i.e charges, technology and breadth of coverage. I would be very shocked if out there is a LUGer who has nothing to do with this second comment i.e data communication!!!! So please lets discuss away. 3) And finally, not far back on this same mailing list, someone labeled a certain company's multi-million shilling campaign CRAP!!! You remember his reasons and all of us happily forwarded his analysis and calculations. Why are we now pulling plugs on another company? I am sure the moment my mail server(I hope yours first) collapses, we shall switch back to Linux immediately as I/you frantically search for solutions! What CELTEL acquired and for what price will lose significance, for now it is significant. Have a nice day.
> is the LUG list now for advertising ??? > > (this post looks more of marketing to me). > > e. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Hari Kurup" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 9:26 AM > Subject: lug_: CELTEL ACQUIRES VIVENDI'S STAKE IN KENCELL > > > > CELTEL ACQUIRES VIVENDI'S STAKE IN KENCELL > > - A LEADING MOBILE OPERATOR IN KENYA > > > > Celtel is investing US$250 million to acquire the majority stake in > KenCell, > > formerly owned by Vivendi Telecom International, in one of Kenya's > > largest-ever corporate transactions. > > > > > > . Celtel International, the leading pan-African mobile communications > > group, is investing US$250 million in Kenya to acquire the majority stake > in > > KenCell Communications Ltd, the shareholder debt and to develop the > > business. > > > > . KenCell, with its Yes! brand is one of the two major mobile network > > operators in Kenya. Founding local partner, Sameer Group, continues to > hold > > 40% of the equity in KenCell. > > > > . The acquisition adds a further 1.2 million subscribers to Celtel's > > pan African network bringing the number of users to four million in 13 > > African countries. > > > > . Celtel is East Africa's only regional operator covering the three > > key countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. > > > > . Celtel is funding the acquisition with a combination of new equity > > from existing and new shareholders, funds raised from asset disposals and > > debt. > > > > Marten Pieters, Celtel International's Chief Executive Officer, commented: > > > > "This is a very important acquisition for Celtel. This re-affirms our > > position as the fastest growing mobile operator in the fastest growing > > market in the world. It also gives us both scale and scope in the East > > African region. > > > > "As the operator with the largest footprint in Africa, we bring a broad > > understanding of the trends and challenges of mobile telephony; the > perfect > > complement to KenCell's successful experience in Kenya. We are committed > to > > developing African networks, with over US$300 million planned for capital > > investment in existing operations this year." > > > > "Kenya is one of the more established mobile markets in Africa. It still > > has a significant potential for organic growth in the next few years to > > increase penetration levels to 10% from 7% today. We look forward to > > integrating the 1.2 million KenCell customers into Celtel." > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------- > > This service is hosted on the Infocom network > > http://www.infocom.co.ug > > > > --------------------------------------------- > This service is hosted on the Infocom network > http://www.infocom.co.ug > > ************************************************************************ Lule George William (Mr) Network and Systems Administrator Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi P.O. Box 5498 Kampala Uganda --------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
