Wireless market continues to grow

The subscriber base of United Arab Emirate’s two wireless operators, Etisalat and Du, has continued to grow in the fourth quarter of 2008, ArabianBusiness reports. Etisalat reported an estimated 7.3 million users at the end of December, up from 6.37 million a year earlier. Fixed line subscribers increased from 1.32 million at the end of 2007 to 1.38 million by December 2008, a market share of 84%. The company is forecasting a 28.2% rise in net income in 2008 to USD2.5 billion, although it has yet to publish its official results. However, Etisalat’s market share has decreased from 77.24% in September 2008 to 74% at the end of December 2008, while rival Du increased its share from 22.76% to 26% in the same time period. At the end of 2008 Du had an estimated 3.05 million subscribers, up from 2.07 million a year earlier. Du’s revenue is also expected to have grown by 8.6% in 2008, boosted by strong mobile revenue growth.