Affirming its leading position among global telecom companies, a report issued by Wireless Intelligence, the research arm of GSMA trade organization, STC ranks in the top 20 mobile networks in the world according to data collected at the end of the fourth quarter of 2010 showing mobile operator group global ranking by revenue. The report also revealed that while mature mobile markets like the U.S., Western Europe, Japan and South Korea continue to generate the big dollars for the mobile industry, the future growth is coming from new telecom economies.
The report also confirmed that inclusion in the top 20 list is due not only to its being the biggest telecoms operator in the region but also to international expansion beyond its local base, which began with the formation of a strategic partnership with Binariang GSM Sdn the principle shareholder of Maxis Telecommunications, and its subsidiary PT Natrindo Telepon Seluler (NTS). With an aggregate US$3.05 billion investment.
Recent statistics based on the report show that there are now 300 million mobile subscribers in MENA alone, a region in which STC is the major player, and given the company’s active presence in countries that have virtually unlimited potential for growth as mobile phones continue on trend to take over the market, STC is strongly positioned to remain in the top twenty mobile networks in the world while keeping its sights set on steadily moving up into the top ten.