HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCED AS GOLD SPONSOR AT 2^ND TELECOM FINANCE MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA CONFERENCE 

 London and Dubai, 4th May 2008: The researchers and organisers of the forthcoming 2^nd Telecom Finance Middle East and Africa Conference (www.tmtfinance.com/tfme) have announced that Huawei Technologies, a leader in providing next generation telecommunications networks, is to be the Gold Sponsor of the event.

Huawei Technologies now serves 35 of the world's top 50 operators, along with over one billion users worldwide. The company is committed to providing innovative and customized products, services and solutions to create long-term value and growth potential for its customers.

“We are delighted to sponsor this premier networking event for the region,” commented Mr. Wang Jia Ding, President of Huawei Middle East Region. “The regional leadership gathering at this event will determine much of the international growth as well as regional consolidation that is taking place.”

With M&A activity low in the mature markets of Europe and North America, telecoms executives, investors and investment bankers have been increasingly looking to the emerging markets of the Middle East and Africa for the next wave of growth in the global telecoms industry. This attention has paid dividends in recent quarters, with 2007’s multi-billion dollar licence deals in Iraq, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia likely to be followed up in 2008 by further Greenfield licence opportunities and more M&A-driven consolidation.

“Telecom development in the Middle East and Africa is at a crucial stage right now: in the more developed markets of the Middle East, there is now true competition, with operators having to expand their product offerings to stay ahead of the game. Elsewhere within the region, less developed markets are catching up fast. In all markets, growth opportunities abound for operators with the right product mix and the commitment to take a lead in the development of this important region.” Commented Nicola Hayes, vice president of Broad Group, co-organiser of the conference.

Leadership of companies represented include: American Tower, Anthem Capital, Augere, Batelco, Booz Allen Hamilton, BT Global Telecom Markets, Calyon, Citigroup, Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), Emirates International Telecoms, Etisalat, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Gateway Communications, Goldman Sachs, Hardiman Telecommunications, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Khalakom Ltd, Linklaters LLP, Motorola, Omantel, QTel, Royal Bank of Scotland, Safaricom, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered, STC, Telecom Egypt, The Mobile World, YahSat, Zantel.

Sponsors for the event include:  Linklaters LLP, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Royal Bank of Scotland Global Banking and Markets, Motorola, Denton Wilde Sapte, and American Tower Corporation. Consulting Partner to the event is Booz Allen Hamilton, and Media Partner is Capital CS&L. Business Community Partner is Zawya. Media Sponsors include Investors Group of Kuwait, Balancing Act, Nooz, Hitek Group of Lebanon, DIDxchange, Middle East Events and The Mobile World. Middle East Advisor is Orient Consulting. Exclusive Broadcast Media Partner is Al Arabiya TV.

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