Sky Telecom, the Dubai-based digital platform for ICT service providers and the consumer technology industry, has reached another important milestone in its MENA expansion plans following a series of new partnerships at the 2016 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company, which was launched in Dubai in 2014, aims to be the most complete and comprehensive digital platform in the region for ICT service providers and the consumer technology industry, allowing them to deliver value-based outcomes and capitalize on new revenue opportunities. In the UAE, Sky Telecom is partnered with mobile communications and technology providers as an enabling service for end-users. As part of Sky Telecom's MENA expansion, the company signed a deal with e-finance, the first and largest electronic payment and collection gateway in Egypt, at 11a.m. on Feb. 22, 2016 in Barcelona's Euro Star Grand Marina Hotel, as part of the 2016 Mobile World Congress. The partnership will see the creation of Egypt's largest digital platform for e-commerce, services and e-government services. The new project is line with the Egyptian government's ICT 2020 strategy, which aims to transform Egypt into a digital Society, develop the ICT industry and establish Egypt as a global digital hub. The aim is to provide Egypt's population with convenient and secure access to e-government services, telecoms, utilities, and a range of complementary services from partner organizations on the platform. "As the largest provider of e-services for the government and private sector in Egypt, we are enabling consumers to embrace the digital age, in terms of convenience, proximity and the range of services that they can access through this partnership," said Ibrahim Sarhan Chairman of e-finance. As part of the deal, Sky Telecom will connect over 20,000 trusted retail outlets to the platform, which will be managed alongside e-finance's existing points of sale in gas stations and post offices across Egypt. In total, the partnership will include 40,000 points of sale in Egypt, managing in excess of an estimated EGP2 billion of transactions during 2016. "We are able to provide end-consumers with products and services that, after extensive research, have shown to be a gap in the market," said Ali Kassab, CEO of Sky Telecom, who spoke at the press conference held on Tuesday in Barcelona. "We plan to fulfill consumers' needs in every aspect we find that revolves around telecommunications." "The partnership between Sky Telecom and e-finance is a significant milestone on our road to connecting people to everything in the region," said Nasir Bin Butti Omeir Bin Yussif, Chairman of Sky Telecom. Following on from the e-finance partnership in Egypt, Sky Telecom is also set to expand its presence throughout other regional markets. In Tunisia, Sky Telecom is in the process of enabling its platform to offer e-services connectivity to consumers across the country. In the coming months, the UAE will see Sky Telecom's trusted store programme rolled out across thousands of outlets, connecting customers with a wide range of e-services and consumer benefits. The project will be officially launched at GITEX 2016. — SG
