Middle East & Africa

Smart Telecom Burundi has re-launched its mobile network services under the Smart brand shared with the East African operators in Uganda and Tanzania. Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) Kenya backs the Smart brand as part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) in partnership with Cyprus-based Russian-owned Timeturns Holdings Global Vision reported. After the late-March launch Smart Burundi began marketing its revamped services on its Facebook social networking site. Smart Burundi says it will provide comprehensive mobile internet and voice services. IPS is the majority shareholder of Afghanistan operator Roshan and a stakeholder in TCell in Tajikistan while the AKFED division holds the largest investment stake in the Seacom submarine cable. Timeturns operational interests include investments in mobile operators in Nepal Cambodia Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.