Azerfon and Vodafone sign strategic partnership deal
Azerfon, one of the fastest growing mobile operators
in Azerbaijan, and Vodafone, the world`s biggest mobile phone group
by sales, signed a non-equity partnership in Baku last week to
provide customers with high quality communications services and to
jointly collaborate on future technological developments. The
document was signed by Guido Helbich, CEO of Azerfon, and Colin
McDougal, Vodafone Vice-President for Partner Markets.
Under the agreement, Azerfon has exclusive access to a range of products, services and devices from Vodafone in Azerbaijan as well as access to Vodafone`s experience in supply chain management, the acquisition of enterprise customers and improved network inter-working.
Azerfon, which is currently constructing the third generation (3G) network in the country, will also be able to draw on Vodafone`s expertise in rolling-out high-speed mobile data networks and mobile broadband products and working with leading global equipment providers.
The partnership with Azerfon will allow Vodafone to offer its customers a range of services, which utilize "home" network capabilities as well as extended coverage within Azerbaijan. The two companies will cooperate to provide additional support to Vodafone Global Enterprise customers who have a presence in the region.
Vodafone`s products and services will be marketed in Azerbaijan under a co-branded approach and as part of a phased roll-out Vodafone will provide Azerfon customers with improved voice and data roaming access across 67 countries where Vodafone is present. Underlining the benefits of the partnership, the Azerfon CEO said the strategic partnership between Azerfon and Vodafone was of great importance for both companies.
"It is a logical step for Azerfon as the fastest growing mobile operator in the country to continue the development benefiting from Vodafone`s expertise and world-wide success together with the provision of best in class and most innovative products and services from around the world on the local market. It will allow us to reach our potential and better develop the ICT sphere of Azerbaijan," Helbich said.
Richard Daly, CEO, Vodafone Partner Markets, commented that the agreement with Azerfon was an opportunity for Vodafone to build its presence and work with the fastest growing operator in the country, where mobile penetration is around 75% and growing rapidly. "In addition, more of our customers require enhanced roaming services and high-speed mobile broadband products within the region due to the high growth dynamics across all sectors in the country."
According to the Azerfon CEO, the number of the company`s customers has reached 1.3 million out of a population of 8.5 million. Azerfon`s services cover 80 percent of the country`s territory. Further, the company holds a 20 percent share in Azerbaijan`s cellular communications market.
Helbich said the agreement signed with Vodafone would strengthen his company`s positions in the domestic market. According to Helbich, though Azerfon launched operations only two and a half years ago, the company is developing quickly.
"Azerfon has covered the long road passed by its competitors in the market in a very short time," Helbich said.
Vodafone Vice-President, McDougal, pointed out that Vodafone currently has 303 million customers and the company has signed partnership agreements with 47 foreign operators. Vodafone`s annual turnover amounts to 40 billion pounds.
Elmir Valizada, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, said in his remarks that an Azerbaijani company`s signing a strategic partnership agreement with the world`s major mobile operator was remarkable. He said the deal would positively affect the domestic telecommunications market by increasing the quality of services provided and applying more progressive methods in management.
"This agreement brings new quality criteria to Azerbaijan`s mobile communications market," Valizada added.
Cellular communication services currently account for 80 percent of the country`s communications sector.
Under the agreement, Azerfon has exclusive access to a range of products, services and devices from Vodafone in Azerbaijan as well as access to Vodafone`s experience in supply chain management, the acquisition of enterprise customers and improved network inter-working.
Azerfon, which is currently constructing the third generation (3G) network in the country, will also be able to draw on Vodafone`s expertise in rolling-out high-speed mobile data networks and mobile broadband products and working with leading global equipment providers.
The partnership with Azerfon will allow Vodafone to offer its customers a range of services, which utilize "home" network capabilities as well as extended coverage within Azerbaijan. The two companies will cooperate to provide additional support to Vodafone Global Enterprise customers who have a presence in the region.
Vodafone`s products and services will be marketed in Azerbaijan under a co-branded approach and as part of a phased roll-out Vodafone will provide Azerfon customers with improved voice and data roaming access across 67 countries where Vodafone is present. Underlining the benefits of the partnership, the Azerfon CEO said the strategic partnership between Azerfon and Vodafone was of great importance for both companies.
"It is a logical step for Azerfon as the fastest growing mobile operator in the country to continue the development benefiting from Vodafone`s expertise and world-wide success together with the provision of best in class and most innovative products and services from around the world on the local market. It will allow us to reach our potential and better develop the ICT sphere of Azerbaijan," Helbich said.
Richard Daly, CEO, Vodafone Partner Markets, commented that the agreement with Azerfon was an opportunity for Vodafone to build its presence and work with the fastest growing operator in the country, where mobile penetration is around 75% and growing rapidly. "In addition, more of our customers require enhanced roaming services and high-speed mobile broadband products within the region due to the high growth dynamics across all sectors in the country."
According to the Azerfon CEO, the number of the company`s customers has reached 1.3 million out of a population of 8.5 million. Azerfon`s services cover 80 percent of the country`s territory. Further, the company holds a 20 percent share in Azerbaijan`s cellular communications market.
Helbich said the agreement signed with Vodafone would strengthen his company`s positions in the domestic market. According to Helbich, though Azerfon launched operations only two and a half years ago, the company is developing quickly.
"Azerfon has covered the long road passed by its competitors in the market in a very short time," Helbich said.
Vodafone Vice-President, McDougal, pointed out that Vodafone currently has 303 million customers and the company has signed partnership agreements with 47 foreign operators. Vodafone`s annual turnover amounts to 40 billion pounds.
Elmir Valizada, Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, said in his remarks that an Azerbaijani company`s signing a strategic partnership agreement with the world`s major mobile operator was remarkable. He said the deal would positively affect the domestic telecommunications market by increasing the quality of services provided and applying more progressive methods in management.
"This agreement brings new quality criteria to Azerbaijan`s mobile communications market," Valizada added.
Cellular communication services currently account for 80 percent of the country`s communications sector.
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