JEDDAH, 28 March 2005 — Mobily starts testing its services in Saudi Arabia from today. The testing phase marks Etihad Etisalat’s preparations to launch its services Kingdomwide.
A limited number of Mobily SIM-cards has been distributed to a group of predetermined users who will test all of the services the company intends to roll out. The test is being conducted by a limited number of users to ensure optimum compliance with stringent testing parameters.
“We cannot disclose the size of the group of predetermined users at this stage,” said Amjed Shacker, Riyadh-based corporate communications manager at Mobily, which is the official brand name of Etihad Etisalat.
Questionnaires have been handed out with the SIM-cards to evaluate service standard and efficiency. Items to be checked include a number of elements covering services and products the company will be providing including top quality user service. Testers will also check the multi-payment methods that will be available to users. The exercise entails performing specific tasks covering the myriad of Mobily services that will be launched in the Kingdom’s market utilizing state-of-the-art technology.
At the end of the test period, the duration of which has not been revealed, comments will be fed into a computer system that will identify and rectify problems, if any Conversely, distributors will be conducting a similar exercise to mirror their observations.
Recently, Mobily announced the graduation of highly qualified Saudi staff from a tailor-made training program. The move was aimed to extend world-class customer service in the Kingdom focusing on each customer as a VIP client rather than a number in a queue.
Mobily, which is set to begin experimental operations next month by launching third generation (3G) mobile phone service for the first time in the Kingdom, has been established in accordance with a 2004 royal decree. The ownership of the company includes Saudi investors holding 20 percent of the company’s shareholding and private investors owning a 45 percent stake, as well as a UAE ownership of 35 percent by Etisalat of the UAE.
The new mobile operator has already established most of its infrastructure facilities in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province. It won the GSM and 3G licenses last year by paying SR12.96 billion. The 3G service is the latest in wireless communication technology. It offers subscribers a wide range of data services, such as mobile Internet access and multimedia applications.
Motorola, a Fortune 100 global communications leader that provides seamless mobility products and solutions across broadband, embedded systems and wireless networks, recently announced an agreement to implement Mobily, with GSM base-station system (BSS) mobile network including enhanced data for GSM evolution (EDGE) and push-to-talk over cellular (PoC).
Under the contract, Motorola will provide a turnkey radio access network (RAN) for GSM and EDGE, including Horizon II base stations. The network will cover parts of the Western, Southern and Northern regions of the Kingdom.