Viva, STC in Gulf LTE roaming deal

Kuwaiti mobile operator Viva on Monday introduced commercial LTE roaming services with neighbouring Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC), marking the first 4G LTE roaming agreement between Gulf operators.

Viva, in which STC holds a 28 per cent stake, is Kuwait’s newest entrant, having launched in 2008 and recently upgraded its network with LTE-Advanced technologies.

Last week the company reported a six-fold rise in annual profit to KWD24.25m ($86m) in 2013, up from KWD3.87m a year earlier. Viva said it had 2.15 million mobile customers in 2013, up from 1.62 million subscribers a year earlier.

Commenting on the roaming launch, Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Badran, Viva’s Chief Executive Officer said: “We are very pleased to launch this service to both VIVA and STC customers across the region. This agreement is the first of its kind between Gulf operators, and it reinforces Viva’s leading role in presenting its customers with the latest in telecommunication services. It also reaffirms STC’s leadership in the field of international roaming services and highlights its dedication to provide the best services, supported by the company’s immense infrastructure.”

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