Armies of Liberation

No wonder they banned text message news alerts, the good slice of the citizenry might have actually been informed.CN

Yemen’s vibrant cellular market will reach 10.5 million subscribers by end of 2012, a cellular penetration rate of 42.4%, fueled in part by the entrance of a 4th mobile operator at the end of last year, says a new report from the Arab Advisors Group.

The Government of Yemen also fully owns and directly oversees the operations of the monopoly fixed line operator, Public Telecommunications Corporation (PTC), and owns a controlling stake in the CDMA cellular operator, Yemen Mobile, through the PTC.

The Arab Advisors Group projects Yemen’s mainlines to reach 1.432 million lines by end of 2012 with a penetration rate of 5.76%. This corresponds to a CAGR of 7.1% between 2008 and 2012. This growth is expected to be mainly through the PTC’s efforts to provide fixed line services in the rural areas of Yemen.

“The Arab Advisors Group projects Yemen’s cellular lines to continue its healthy growth. With the entry of the fourth cellular operator in Yemen, the Arab Advisors Group projects Yemen’s cellular market to grow at a CAGR of 15.7% from 2008 to 2012, reaching 10.537 million subscribers (a cellular penetration rate of 42.4%) up from 4.437 million by end of 2007.” Mr. Hussam Barhoush, Arab Advisors senior research analyst of Arab Advisors Group wrote in the report.

Yemen Times

The internet was introduced to Yemen in 1990 and according to the latest figures from the Telecommunications Ministry, there are 146,000 internet subscribers nationwide, 822 internet cafés and more than 20 news web sites operating in Yemen.

I have a tee shirt that says, “Ali Saleh is scared of a blog.” And apparently he really is. In a rather Stalinist reaction to growing civil unrest, Yemen blocked 1126 Yemeni blogs.

Maktoobblog.com, one of the most popular Arab blogging platform, has been recently blocked in Yemen. The OpenNet Initiative testing has confirmed yesterday, through technical investigation, that the blog hosting service has been blocked by Yemennet ISP, a service of the government’s Public Telecommunication Corporation (PTC):

ONI technical investigation verified that the service has been blocked by Yemennet, Yemen’s government-run ISP. Access is blocked to the entire domain maktoobblog.com, effectively to every blog hosted by the service. Interestingly, users who attempt to access the site receive a network error message instead of the standard blockpage, which is served when users attempt to access sexual content.

This significant blocking is expected to hinder Internet users in Yemen from blogging and reading blogs because maktoobblog.com is home of one of the largest blogging communities in the Middle East and North Africa.

People get the network error message for this blog too. My article on internet censorship appeared at the Yemen Times earlier this month.

Unsurprising in the wake of the mortar attack on the US embassy; however, it is another form of collective punishment.

Mareb Press

The 14 October police station disseminated today a circular to most of the internet cafes’ owners including closing the internet café at 12 am and banning use of internet by children during day or night with pretext of using the internet by suspicious people and children.

The director of police station stressed on the necessity of implementing and committing on this circular saying those will not implement it, they will have to hold the responsible for that.

“The customers should bring their identification cards with them in order to enter the internet café,” he said.

The officer of Rights and Liberties in Lawyers Syndicate, Mohammed al-Maswari, said in press released a copy of which was obtained by Mareb Press, this represent a clear restriction for the liberties and rights of citizens and businessmen.

He demanded for investigation about this. He wondered whether a police station can issued such circulars without any legal verdict.

Eyewitness said that a number of policemen started yesterday evening closing some internet cafes in Sana’a city at 1am.

Meanwhile Saleh declares March 19 as “Yemeni Media Day” and someone issues a statement on behalf of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YSJ) praising the president; however it wasn’t the YSJ. The YSJ was busy having a rally in support of journalist Abdulkarim Al-Khaiwani who is falsely charged with terrorism, while as we know, the terrorists are nearly all free whether or not they were sentenced to jail.

Al-Khiwani has highly appreciated the support of his colleagues, but urged all who have concerns about freedom of opinion to not abandon their legal struggle to get more freedom and break through all restrictions the authorities want to impose on press. He confirmed he would continue fight for his liberty and opinion.

Lines restored after nine months of no communication, the last three of which have been under a cease fire. How is that not a punative action on the whole region?

almotamar.net - The official spokesman for the committee on implementing Saada agreement Yasser al-Awadhi said Sunday that all types of telephone lines, fixed, mobile, in all districts of Saada governorate have been operated again.

In a statement to almotamar.net al-Awadhi said the re-operation started from Saturday and that move comes within the framework of the state endeavour to restore situations in the governorate to their normal function in a way in harmony with creating atmospheres convenient for completing implementation the remaining articles of the agreement on ending the sedition.

Al-Awadhi also affirmed that the committee is continuing its work, pointing out it would go back to Saada to oversee the remaining points of the agreement after the holidays of Al-Fitr Eid.

Another story that fits in the communications catagory. Undoing the unexplained internet price hike from errrr August 2005 was it?

almotamar.net

- President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Saturday gave his directives for cutting the cost of subscription to internet services by 30% and 10% in cost of calls via Yemen mobile network.

In his inspection visit Saturday to the State Establishment for Cable and Wireless Communications President Saleh Emphasised the importance of the role played by communications and information technology sector in the economic development and increase of productivity and the necessity of providing the citizens with communications services for reduced price.

The president asked Yemen mobile company to search for alternatives to support services apparatuses and to make them available for the citizens with suitable price.

President Saleh got acquainted with the ministry’s leadership efforts for organising the communications sector and he instructed on speeding up completion of the executive measures on restructuring the ministry and development of the law of communications in Yemen in a way keeping pace with variables taking place in this impotent sector.

As they are holding a democracy conference, there’s a bill sent to Parliament that kills free speech. Maybe they’ll take 15 years to pass it like the gun bill.

In the absence of political will to reform, public pressure can sometimes be an effective catalyst, but not if the public is muzzled.

The regime smells a revolution coming and keeps doing all the things that are going to provoke it.

Yemeni Government Introduces Bill To Jail Critics Of President

SAN’A, Yemen (AP)–Critics of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh could receive up to 15 years in prison under a proposed law introduced by the government and sent to parliament on Sunday.

Under the draft law, ‘agitators’ could also face a death penalty if their anti-government incitement causes deaths during protests.

Yemeni newspapers said the draft law also imposes severe prison sentences on journalists, writers and rights advocates who ‘incite’ anti-government activities including protests. These acts, according to the draft law, undermine national security and are harmful to social peace.

Critics immediately blasted the law as a violation of freedom of expression.

“The government is retreating from its promises to expand the freedoms and halt restrictive measures,” said Sami Ghalib, head of the Freedoms Committee at the Yemeni Press Syndicate.

Thousands of Yemenis have taken to the streets in several cities around the country this month to protest government corruption and rising prices.

The demonstrations, organized by a coalition of five opposition parties, drew a sharp rebuke from authorities, who said the gatherings didn’t serve development and stability.

Saleh has said the planned protests intended to “prepare the streets for disorder, tension and create bottlenecks which do not serve the economy, stability and security.”

Yemen, a poor tribal country at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula has been struggling with poverty. The central bank reported revenue of $1.5 billion in oil sales in the first four months of 2007 but most is believed to have been spent on armaments and security.

Unemployment in Yemen is at 36.8%, according to government statistics.

(previous post)

al-Motamar

NewsYemen - While the HitsUNiTEL company is preparing to launch the GSM service as the third operator in Yemen, under the sponsorship of Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, the Yemeni UNiTEL company says such behavior is a belittlement of laws and judicial orders.

Deputy chairman of UNiTEL Salman al-Mashdali said that determination of HiTsUnitel to violate the Trade Court’s orders to stop any measures until the Trade Court totally solves the cause.

Salman urged the government to prevent “such behaviors as the first responsible for enacting laws and courts’ orders.

The Trade Court of the capital Sana’a ordered last week the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology to stop transferring the license of UNiTEL to any other party until a further notice.

The court’s decision came after UNiTEL filed a suit against the ministry of telecommunications claiming the ministry had transferred its license as third operator of GSM service in Yemen to HitsUNiTEL.

Meanwhile, the board chairman of HiTs Unitel Nader al-Qalei denied at a press conference held in Sana’a Wednesday any difference with UNiTEL and said that there is no judicial verdict against HiTsUnitel up to now.

But he declared that Salman al-Mashdali, the owner of UNiTEL, “is a key partner in HiTsUnitel and has right.”

Al-Qalei confirmed that HitsUNiTEL in Yemen was established according to a legal decision by the Yemeni cabinet and that it had paid charges of the license, 140 million Yemeni rials.

He said that the shareholders in HiTsUnitel are 26, Gulf and Syrians have the lion share, 75 percent. He said a Kuwaiti company has 15%, the United Corporation for Trade 18.5% and the Yemeni Mohammad al-Kore, deputy chairman of HitsUnitel, has 6%.

The company has announced its market name would be “Y” and its numbers for subscribers would start with (700).

According to HiTsUnitel website, the company has become the third GSM provider in Yemen, along with 2 local companies.

It said that it had been awarded the third GSM license in Yemen on 18 July 2006.

The Telecom market in Yemen is mushrooming and has one of the fastest growth market in the region, with a population of 21 million and a penetration rate of only 10%, it said.

It said that its ambition is to become the new leader of the telecom sector in the country by fueling in new ideas and technology into the market. It said it would launch its service in Yemen in the few coming months.

Yemen Observer

HiTs-Unitel for GSM mobile coverage has promised to offer Yemenis competitive services that include new technological developments, Nader Kalai, the Chairman Board Director of the company, said during press conference held at the Movenpick Hotel last Thursday.
“HiTs-Unitel launched its media campaign with this press conference as the third operator for GSM system,” he said. “The company is working on finalizing the construction of station operators and other requirements for the network of the company, which will start to work during the next three months, as the first stage.”

HiTs-Unitel was established last year, using Yemeni, Saudi, Kuwaiti, and Emirates capital, which is estimated to be $500 million. It will offer a good coverage with high quality, Kalai said.
“My partners and I trust Yemeni justice in terms of the case in the court between HiTs-Unitel and Unitel company,” he said. “We have come to Yemen to set up a good investment to make use of the good environment of investment, which is supported by the president of Yemen and his government.”

“The company depends on a good network of distributors who have enough experience to offer the best sales service to its clients,” said Kalai, “We selected many international companies under the supervision European and Arab experts to follow the latest technological developments in order to serve our consumers.”

“HiTs-Unitel is to serve Yemeni society by offering many job opportunities for graduated students,” said Imad Hamed, Chief Executive Officer. “Until now the company has 300 employees, 90 percent of them are Yemenis.”
At the end of press conference, Imad Hamed gave a presentation about the company’s plan to cover urban both urban and rural areas their plan to cover almost all of Yemen in one year.

Including mine. What am I doing wrong? Or does the regime just throw me in with the rabble rousing opposition automatically? Anyways they all seems to be up again including al-Estraki. Must have been a Sa’ada thing.

The Saudi HITS company seems rather flaky, perhaps non-existant or otherwise dubious, the HITSUNITEL deal is convoluted. Omantel declined to resub its bid a while ago:

SANA’A, NewsYemen

The Trade Court in the capital Sana’a has ordered to stop giving the license of UNiTEL, the third operator of GSM service in Yemen, to any other operator.

The court obligated in its order on Sunday the Ministry of Telecommunications to terminate all measures of changing or transferring the license given to UNiTEL to Hits UNiTEL, until a further notice.

“The judicial order has stopped illegal attempts to confiscate the license of my client, UNiTEL company, and giving it to another party,” the lawyer of UNiTEL Jamal al-Adimi told NewsYemen.

“It is not allowed, according to law, to impound a license legally given to an investment company through a legal tender to give it for another one,” he said.

While the government said UNiTEL could not fulfill the financial commitment, the UNiTEL company, which won an open and official tender on October 2006 to be the third operator of GSM service in Yemen, said it had settled all its financial commitments to the state ($149 million) so it had got the license.

Government bans news sent to mobile phones by SMS message

Reporters Without Borders today condemned new media censorship in Yemen, where access to at least two websites has been blocked since the start of the year, in one case for three months, and the information ministry is now censoring the distribution of news to mobile phones by SMS message.

“It is disturbing that the Yemeni government is attacking new technology in this way,” the press freedom organisation said. “It never showed any open-mindedness towards the opposition media and these new arenas of expression offered a fresh opportunity for the media. The authorities have again demonstrated their determination to control news and information that is critical of them.”

The al-Shora website, which regularly posted opposition articles, was closed on 24 February. It was finally allowed to reopen on 23 May. The socialist website aleshteraki was similarly closed for a week, from 16 to 23 May. The government was worried by the fact that they were controlled by opposition parties. It was also concerned about their coverage of the fighting with the al-Houthi rebels in Saada province.

The information and telecommunications ministry has now banned several mobile phone news distribution services, including those proposed by the companies Nass mobile and Bela Qoyod mobile, on the grounds that they were not subject to sufficient control. The ministry nonetheless said that the authorities could offer such services.

SMS messages expressing criticism of President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s government had circulated in the weeks prior to the ban. The opposition parties denied being behind them. On 7 June, the government announce the start of a debate about a new press law, one concerning new media in particular.

YO

The Joint Meetings Party has suspended dialogue with the ruling General People’s Party, as a result of the government’s recent blocking of certain websites and SMS news services, said a source within the JMP. “The government has done clear damage to its promise to uphold the right of the press and free expression guaranteed by the Yemeni Constitution,” the source said. “If the government stops the violations against the press freedom, we will return to dialogue with the ruling party.”

Mohammed Qahtan, the leader of JMP, could not confirm the suspension of dialogue because he is not the spokesman anymore, he said. But Mohammed al-Sabri warned the ruling party against continuing to crush the democratic margin. The GPC did not respond to requests for comment by press deadline. Information Minister Hassan al-Lawzi said that the Information Ministry is fully prepared to grant licenses to any new newspaper, provided that it meets legal requirements. If newspapers have failed to get licenses, it is their own fault, he said, for not completing legal requirements. “Maybe they can’t,” he said.

“Websites, press releases and newsletters via phone must be subject to legal action, so as not to turn the situation into chaos and the government aims to regulate the process,” al-Lawzi said. He accused some websites of committing “a serious breach of the law, and attacking state secrets and spreading lies against the public interest.” Al-Sabri said that the JMP was in full solidarity with the journalists, and urged them to launch a freedom sit-in in front of the Council of Ministers, and to be at the forefront of the great roles long awaited by the people.

Al-Sabri called upon the Parliament to hold the government accountable for its promises, especially with regard to media freedoms. It is alarming, he said, that the government would fear newsletters that do not exceed 70 characters. Saeed Thabet, first undersecretary of the Yemeni Association of Journalists, renewed his condemnation of such behavior by the authorities. The government’s justifications are flimsy and false, he said. The Ministry of Information is unnecessary, he said. The Ministry of Information and Communications should not prevent news services via phone and withhold websites. There should not be a monopoly of information. Lawyer Mohammed Naji Allawo suggested setting up a tent for a sit-in in front of the Council of Ministers.

“Ants will not tire, will not tolerate even the possession of people, organizations and parties all the various media, audio-visual and print,” he said. The chief editor of al-Nass newspaper, Ali al-Jaradi, said in a speech that the Information Ministry does not have a law regulating electronic media. Remarkably, he said, the law that the authority recently proposed, “contains a strong desire to restrict electronic media.” He called on journalists and all political actors to stand against the law and destroy it.

Parliament member Dr. Mansour al-Zindani promised the journalists a discussion of this topic in the Parliament at its next meeting. He said that he valued the role of the media as the first line in the struggle for change. The delegation of protesters scheduled to meet with the prime minister withdrew before the interview, in protest against what they described as provocations from the security, and demanded a formal apology.

The Sabafon company mobile phone network announced Tuesday that it was forced to stop service on its subscriber news service, after it was subjected to pressure and threats from the Ministry of Communications. Sabafon sent a letter to its subscribers in the service, without clarifying whether the suspension is temporary or permanent. Al-Nass Mobile News, provided by the al-Nass newspaper, was forced to stop its SMS news service last week, by order of the Ministry of Communications.

Background: In November 2005, UNITEL signed a new agreement with the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology which grants it priority in operating the third GSM company in Yemen. Unitel was a product of China Mobile Telecommunications Corp. and a group of Yemeni and Arab businessmen. The agreement is valued at USD149 million. UNITEL initially failed to pay the USD149 million to the Yemeni governments. In July, second highest bidder, Omantel, declined to resubmit its offer of USD 100 million, telling Elaph website that it was dissatisfied with the Yemeni governments handling of the UNITEL transaction. The Saudi-based House for Integrated Technology Systems and UNITEL merged to form HitsUnitel. Later in October of 2006, UNITEL reportedly paid the debt and is on track to establish the company. HITSUNIEL reportedly increased its capital to USD190 million during its first meeting in January 2007 and will be managed by Damascus-based Syriatel Mobile Telecom under the chairmanship of Nader Al Kalai, Syriatel’s chief executive. The company expects to operational by mid 2007.

Coninuing the Unitel, Omantel saga, the Saudi company HITS doesnt appear to exist in any substantial form according to the following article from allafrica.com (who tried to reach them and found all their phones unavailable.)

The Monitor (Kampala)
NEWS
April 3, 2007
Posted to the web April 2, 2007

By Muhereza Kyamutetera

So much could have been said and promised by Hits Telecom, but who are the people behind it and can the company deliver on its promises?

On March 12, the same day Hits Telecom got their telecom licence, the company’s directors, Abdul Karim Ahmet Abushanab, and House of Integrated Technical and Systems Limited, sold their shareholding to Middle East and Africa Investments Company for a nominal Shs10 million each.

This, according to sources, made Middle East and Africa Investments Company (MEAIC) the majority shareholder with 88 per cent and the rest (12 per cent) belonging to Veritus, the supposedly local investor.

This however raises questions as to why any investor would chose to sell off their holding on the same day the company acquired a licence.

HITS telecom directors could not be reached for a comment as all their phones were not available.

On the same day, however, Edwin Rowell, Hits Telecom CEO, promised not just mere mobile phone services, but a real shake up of the mobile phone market.

Mr Rowel said his company, based in Saudi Arabia, alongside with a local partner, Veritus Communications would sink into the market $150 million (Shs262.5 billion) this year and another $50 million (Shs87.5 billion) in the first quarter of next year.

The tough-talking Mr Rowel did not mince words on the need to “increase the network capacity in Uganda to meet the existing as well as the future demand of subscribers.”

He further predicted: “All over the world, the expansion of the number of operators and the associated competition drives down tariffs and improves service for the customers. Uganda will not be an exception to this principle.” |

As expected, the market welcomed Hits Telecom, as a saviour form tariffs the public considers high, given the economies of scale that the players should be enjoying given that mobile subscription is close to 3 million customers or nearly 10 per cent.

In a recent press interview, Mr Rowell reportedly said the company will begin rolling out on April 3. “The rollout team of some 17 quality individuals will arrive on April 3 to export their expertise to Uganda, covering all functions,” he was quoted in the the New Vision. According to him they would include several hard-nosed veterans of Africa to get the job done.

Ultimate Media quoted him as having said the company would also invest up to $500 million (Shs875 billion) in power generation.

So much could have been said and promised by Hits Telecom, but who are the people behind it and can the company deliver on its promises?

The company behind Hits Telecom is registered at the Registry of Companies as House of Integrated Technical Systems Uganda Limited thus the name Hits.

Documents available to Business Power indicate that the company was registered on November 22, 2006 by four shareholders.

These are: Abdul Karim Ahmet Abushanab whose registered address is P.O Box 1809 Kampala and MEAIC also registered at the same address.

The other shareholders are Veritas Communications which is registered in Tortola British Virgin Islands (though Rowell claimed it is a local partner) and House of Integrated Technical Systems Limited registered in Al Ulayya, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

The documents filed by their lawyer, Salim Makeera of Salim Makeera Advocates on Metropole House, however do not indicate how much shareholding each of the shareholders has in the company. Their bankers are: Crane Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic Bank and Tropical Africa Bank. Although Hits telecom announced that it has 2.5 million subscribers in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria, the company, according Yemen Times newspaper, is yet to start operations in the country.

According to Yemen Times, their alliance with Chinese investors, Unitel to form Hits Unitel failed to take off until they were rescued by Syria’s Syriatel which acquired a 10 percent holding and has assumed management. HitsUnitel is expected to begin operations mid 2007.

It is not clear though, whether the company has GSM operations in Saudi Arabia as the country has only three players: MTN Saudi Arabia, Bravo and the Kuwaiti based MTC which has just won the third mobile GSM operator licence.

It is also not clear whether Hits is a shareholder in Algerie Telecom and Orascom Telecom Algeria, the only two mobile players there.

A google search on the company only yields stories written by the local media on the company, suggesting that the company has no official website. Only time will tell whether Hits Telecom has the resources to take off.

And as long as we’re on the topic of mobile phone providers:

almotamar.net -

SANA’A, April 03(Saba)- The GSM service operator Spacetel Yemen has announced its combination with the Mobile Telephone Network (MTN)to become MTN Yemen.

In a press conference held at Taj Sheba Hotel in Sana’a on Tuesday on the announcement, the executive director of MTN Yemen, Raed Ahmad, said that combination process is considered to be a unique economic success that reflects Yemen’s successful steps in economic
development.

(Read on …)

AS: A recent survey prepared by academic researchers in Wessab Districts, Dhamar province, revealed grave deteriorations in essential services; education , public health, water and electricity.

It also pointed out that unemployment rate reach 60 % there, referring that deterioration to isolation, the area geographical distance , rough roads, drought and water scarcity.

It further confirmed that most area populations don’t get public positions and the number of employed people in the private sector don’t exceed 1 percent of the populations.

The survey also showed that those people registered in social insurance are few compared with other areas in the country.

Children trafficking

The survey said that hard poverty in Wessab caused trafficking of children to Saudi whereas traffickers exploit their conditions and traffic them .

Children laboring

The survey explained that 60 percent of children who must be joined school went to look for occupations in farming, building, transferring water and other rough works .

Women status

The survey also demonstrated that women in Wessab suffer much compared with their counterparts in Yemen since 98 percent practice rigid works such bringing water , collecting woods and culturing farming lands and animals . Additionally, they don’t join education and a big percentage of them are afflicted with various ailments Owing to malnutrition, poverty and illiteracy

The continuing saga

SANA’A, Oct. 05 (Saba) - Director of Media and Relations in telecommunication ministry Yasar Thamar said that the Unitel company,
third GSM operator,paid its financial obligations to the ministry.
In a statement to Saba, Thamar said that Unitel finalized legal measures to state its services as third GSM operator in Yemeni market
in accordance to agreement between the ministry and the company.
The ministry of telecommunication hopes that the entrance of Unitel would to the market would increase competition to offer best services for citizens.