Egypt’s Orascom Telecom plans Canada launch this year

November 18, 2009 - 0:0

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt-based mobile operator Orascom Telecom still plans to launch an operation in Canada by the end of the year, Executive Chairman Naguib Sawiris said on Tuesday.

Globalive, a firm in which Orascom says it has an indirect stake, has a mobile licence in Canada. But a ruling by the Canadian regulator said Globalive did not comply with Canada’s foreign ownership rules because it was effectively under Orascom’s control.
“We are set to launch before Christmas,” Sawiris told a news conference in Cairo, referring to the Canadian operation.