Etisalat Lanka: blending experience and expertise from three continents

United Arab Emirate’s telecom giant launched its Etisalat brand in the local market last week with the expertise and specialized proficiency of the Tigo Pvt Ltd, as the management team and employee force remain unchanged.
Etisalat, the United Arab Emirates-based telecom firm, acquired 100 percent of the Sri Lanka operation called Tigo from Millicom International in October 2009 and has renamed it Etisalat Lanka.
The new entry will bring in experience and expertise from three continents, with pioneering technology, ground breaking innovations and a brand new customer experience.
Etisalat takes on Sri Lanka’s first ever cellular service provider which played an avant-garde role in giving the nation access and exposure to novel and revolutionary aspects of communication, information and services.
Established in 1976, Etisalat has built up a modern telecom infrastructure and formed itself as an innovative operator; it has extended operation into KSA, Egypt, West Africa and further into the Asian markets such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and now Sri Lanka, recording over 100 million subscribers across 18 countries. In 2009, Etisalat reported an annual Net Revenues of AED 30.831 billion and Net Profits of AED 8.836 billion, marking a 5% and 16% increase respectively.
Apart from the basic telecommunication services Etisalat also offers a range of innovative and modern service as in its parent country, the UAE, one of the most advanced nations in terms of telecom services.
Wit the immediate commencement of an impressive investment roll out, Etisalat intends to expand its current network with a coverage expansion resulting in a total of over 1500 2G sites and 500 3G sites this year.