Celtel Group's Founder and Chairman earns top industry accolade "For helping the world to hear Africa's voice"
The GSM Association Chairman's Award for 2007 is presented to a remarkably successful mobile entrepreneur, a pioneer of technical achievement and a driving force in the industry's efforts to connect the unconnected of Africa.
This highest annual award - in recognition of outstanding achievement in supporting the growth and vitality of the global mobile community, and the highlight of the Global Mobile Awards - was presented by GSMA Chairman Craig Ehrlich to Dr Mohamed 'Mo' Ibrahim, the founder and chairman of Celtel International, a fully owned subsidiary of MTC, which operates networks in 15 African countries.
Dr Ibrahim is a technical innovator who joined the industry 22 years ago at the launch of the world's first mobile network. More than 18 years ago he founded Mobile Systems International (MSI), a company that developed the software to help operators manage and plan their use of radio spectrum at a time when networks were planned using tracing paper and a map.
He subsequently founded a mobile operator that invested in the underserved African telecommunications market, which in 1998 consisted of a mere 2 million mobile users on the entire continent. That company eventually became Celtel and it paved the way for much of the growth of mobile communications throughout Africa. With more than 17 million users, and 60% growth per year, Celtel is licensed to serve more than one half of the continent's population. In 2005, Celtel was sold to MTC - a middle east based mobile group serving 20 countries - for more than $3.4 billion, although Dr Ibrahim remains Chairman of the Celtel board.
In October 2006, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation was launched, with backing from world leaders including Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. The Foundation is a radical new initiative to promote and recognise good governance and leadership in Africa, and will award the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership - worth $5 million with a further $200,000 a year available for good causes suggested by the winner.
Presenting the Chairman's Award to Mo Ibrahim at the GSMA Global Mobile Awards Gala in Barcelona, Craig Ehrlich said: "This is a man who is in many ways the founding father of African mobile communications, a visionary wireless technician and mobile businessman, whose commitment to both the industry and the continent has helped the world to hear Africa's voice."
The ceremony was attended by the global mobile industry elite, MTC Chairman Mr Asaad Al Banwan, MTC Managing Director and Deputy Chairman Dr Saad Al Barrak as well as several executives of MTC Group and Celtel International.
Enquiries:
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