Lebara to launch mobile services in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

LONDON, ENGLAND: 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.

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 percent of the GCC's GDP, which in 2012 was valued at $1.56 trillion.

The mobile Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) is expected to increase in the long term from it currently being $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.