Chosen as the best provider in the category “ICT support and services” for businesses.

Proving once again its status as a top-class provider of business solutions, du was honoured at SME Advisor’s Stars of Business Awards 2010 under the ‘ICT Support and Services’ category. The award, which was handed over to du’s Chief Commercial Officer – Farid Faraidooni during a ceremony, demonstrates du’s success in providing top-of-the-line ICT-related support and services aimed towards its valued SME business customers.

“We are proud and honoured to receive this prestigious award, which demonstrates our commitment to serving the needs of our business customers. Over a short span of just three years we have created a rich portfolio of business products across mobile , fixed and data services. Furthermore, we have moved away from the ‘one size fits all’ approach and have segmented the market in order to successfully optimise offerings according to each individual segment’s needs,” commented Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du. Highlighting key business issues for SMEs since its launch in 2005, SME Advisor is the only magazine of its kind which caters to this fast-growing and increasingly important segment. The SME Advisor ‘Stars of Business’ Awards 2010 aim to encourage regional businesses and best practice.

In spite of challenging market conditions, du has established itself aggressively within the business sector with year on year growth by acquiring more than 20,000 business customers (SME & large enterprise across the UAE), with more than 300,000 business mobile users in a highly penetrated market. Within a short span of three years, the company has managed to achieve a 37 per cent customer market share in mobile including business and consumer customers across the UAE.

Today, du has more than 14 offerings on mobile and multiple offerings on fixed and data to cater to large, medium and small sized companies’ telecom needs. Some of the first offerings in the UAE and region created by du are:

Product Innovation:

• One world one rate on all incoming calls while roaming on mobile
• Per second billing
• Power bill : analytical online tool for total reporting, analysis & cost control

Segmented offers:

• Business Super Plan: First of its kind offering in UAE for Small & medium segment with included international minutes, national minutes, SMS & data.
• Premier Plan: Aimed towards large enterprise, it is the first plan in the region which had a postpaid and prepaid on one SIM.
• PaYG CUG: Tapping into the hospitality & service sector need, this plan caters to mobile needs with 100% mobile calling discounts among company employees & keeping control of costs through prepaid platform. The plan is designed for service sector companies.
• Premier G: Targeted plan for Government organisations with calling benefits on national calls & within the group. This is our recent announcement targeted specifically towards the Government sector, with its unique requirements.

Smartphone choices:

• Blackberry Plus Voice: First of its kind handset installment offers for SME segment. This plan aims to reduce CAPEX for the company by offering installment based plan.
• iPhone for Business: Another unique smart phone plan for SME segment to reduce total cost of ownership while endorsing smart phones to drive business efficiency.
• Blackberry Plus: Targeted offer for large enterprises reducing CAPEX with a contractual obligation.

Smart solutions:

• Telemetry: We provide automated machine to machine data communication and today many companies are benefiting from continuous automated business solutions across the UAE. The service also caters to the following:
• Vehicle tracking
• Meter reading
• Transportation & fleet management

Mobile broadband:

• du’s Business Mobile Broadband is provided over du’s state-of-the-art high speed mobile Dual carrier data network (HSPA+) giving download speeds of up to 42.2 Mbps – the first telecom operator in the UAE, and among the few operators in the world to offer this speed.

Notes to editors

About The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) is the leading international body representing purchasing and supply management professionals. It is the worldwide centre of excellence on purchasing and supply management issues and offers business solutions. CIPS has 65,000 members in 150 different countries, including senior business people, high-ranking civil servants and leading academics. The activities of purchasing and supply chain professionals can have a major impact on the profitability and efficiency of all types of organisation. http://www.cips.org

About du

du, the integrated telecom service provider in the UAE, launched mobile telecommunication services in February 2007 across the UAE, in addition to internet and pay TV services that du provides in some of the free zones of Dubai. Call Select, du’s nationwide fixed line services for voice telephony, was launched in July 2007. By the end of 2008, over 3 million people in the UAE chose to become du customers. Among du’s many firsts is its historic Number Booking Campaign for both individuals and business, Pay by the Second billing system, Mobile TV, Mobile Payments, first of its kind ‘WoW’ recharge card (which offers customers the choice between ‘more credit’, ‘more time’ and now the ‘more international’ recharge option with additional credit on international calls) and Self Care.

For business customers, du business offers include Closed Business User Group and preferred International Destinations. du Broadcast Services division brings scalable media technology platforms and telecommunication solutions to the broadcast community through its world-class teleport (Samacom) and Master Control Room (MCR) facilities.

du products and services for consumers and business are available through du’s retail network, currently numbering 34 du shops located in strategic locations across the UAE, including the recently opened flagship store located in the heart of Abu Dhabi. In addition, customers can access du products and services at more than 3000 authorised dealers or through the du e-shop, accessible at http://shop.du.ae

du shops are a one-stop-shop for mobile service, carrier select and the payment of service bills.du is 39.5 per cent owned by the UAE Federal Government, 19.75 per cent by Mubadala Development Company, 19.5 per cent by Emirates Communications & Technology Company LLC and the remaining stake by public shareholders. It is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and trades under the name du.

Awards to date

• du selected as a UAE Superbrand at the Superbrands awards gala 2010.
• du presented with an award for Best Middle Eastern Local Currency Deal 2008 by UK’s EuroWeek
• du won two prestigious awards at UAE Web Awards 2008. du e-shop portal won the best strategic online portal award in the e-commerce category and du media club website won the bronze award in the media and press category.
• du corporate brand launch campaign awarded a Cristal MENA award in 2008.
• du declared ‘Best Brand’ at Telecoms World Awards Middle East 2007 for innovative branding and outstanding brand success.
• Second place in the New Brand Launch category at the GMR Effectiveness in Marketing Awards 2007.
• Silver Award for the best website in the ICT category at the UAE Web Awards 2007.
• du WoW TV Commercial awarded amongst the best 50 TV commercials in mobile telecom category in the world for 2007.

For further information, please contact:

Saugat Chatterjee
Public Relations Manager
Brand & Communications
du
Mobile: +971 55 9367045
Email: saugat.chatterjee@du.ae

Press contacts:

Rebecca Fox, Regional Manager
rebecca.fox@cips.org
+971 506283649

Trudy Salandiak, Public Relations, CIPS trudy.salandiak@cips.org
01780 761575
07917 64856