THROUGH THE TIME
1976
Emirates Telecommunication Corporation was founded.
1982
Emirates Telecommunication Corporation launches Middle East First Mobile Network.
1983
The ownership structure changes with UAE government getting a 60% share in the company and the remaining 40% is publically traded.
1984
The President His Highness Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan issued a Federal decree amending the 1976 decree no 78. According to decree the new name of the Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Emirtel) will be etisalat.
1989
Etisalat Established Etisalat University college to create a talent pool of engineers to drive its future growth.
1991
The UAE central government issues federal law No: 1 which gives corporation the right to provide wire and wireless telecommunication services in the country and between UAE and other countries.
1994
The Middle East first GSM service in introduced in UAE, Etisalat also launches Emirates Data Cleaning House. Now one the world leading cleaning houses provided a complete solution to GSM operators to provide roaming facilities to their customer in turn
1995
Internet services are rolled out across the country, another first in the region. Etisalat opens its SIM card factory, Ebtikar, a leading provider of smart card solutions.
1996
Etisalat become one of the founder investors in satellite telecommunication provider Thuraya. e marine id founded to provide maintenance and service to the growing number of international telecommunication cable passing through the Gulf.
1999
The Middle East first broadband internet services using the latest ADSL technologies introduced.
2000
Mobile subscribers exceed the one million mark as mobile data services is introduced using eWap.
2002
Etisalat subscribers reach two million. It develops its mobile network to offer GPRS.
2003
One million more customers added in the year bringing the total number of subscribers for Etisalat’s UAE operations to three million.
2004
Etisalat wins second licence to operate in Saudi Arabia thereby introducing Etihad Etisalat — Mobily. It also buys a stake in Canar — a new fixedline operator in Sudan.
2005
Etisalat acquires a stake and takes management control of PTCL, the incumbent operator in Pakistan.
2006
Etisalat wins the third mobile licence in Egypt and launched the country’s first 3G network networks.
2007
Etisalat acquires a stake in a green-field operator in Nigeria, the largest and fastest growing market in Africa. It also invests in Excelcomindo, one of the leading mobile service providers in Indonesia. Etisalat introduces mobile TV.
2008
Etisalat successfully takes a stake in Swan Telecom, which is later renamed Etisalat DB. This ensures etisalat’s entrance to India consolidating its presence in the Asian subcontinent.
2009
Etisalat acquires Tigo, a Sri Lankan operator, which is later rebranded to Etisalat Lanka. Etisalat offer the iPhone across the UAE and Saudi Arabia for the first time.
2010
Etisalat deploys new services across its fibre network including 3DTV. This makes the UAE one of the first five countries in the world to offer this service. Etisalat also starts offering faster mobile broadband speeds using HSPA+ and announces commercial trials of LTE.
2011
Etisalat introduces the first real 4G (LTE) experience to its customers in the UAE.
2012
Etisalat won 3G licence in Afghanistan and Ivory Coast and launched the first 3G services in history of Afghanistan. Etisalat won three GSMA awards in the ‘Best Mobile Health Innovation’ and ‘mWomen Best Mobile Product’ categories for its mobile health innovation Etisalat Mobile Baby, as well as the ‘Best Mobile Money Innovation’ award.
2013
Etisalat signed SPA with Vivendi to acquire Vivendi’s 53% stake in Maroc Telecom Group. Etisalat Benin obtained a Universal Mobile Service License which covers 2G, 3G, 4G and any other mobile technologies available in future in Benin.
2014
Etisalat completes acquisition of 53% shareholding in Maroc Telecom. * Etisalt successfully issue its inaugural bond under its Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) programme listed in Irish Stock Exchange. * Etisalat signs SPA with Maroc Telecom for sale of etisalat’s shareholding in Atlantique Telecoms.
2015
Etisalat group completed the sale of its operations in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic Gabon, Ivory Coast, Togo, and Niger.