June 27.2009 - Parmand Telecom - MTN has hit back at media reports, which speculated it could lose millions from its Iranian operations, following unrest over the country's elections.

“The MTN Group wishes to allay concerns precipitated by media reports that there has been a shutdown of telecommunication services in Iran, and that this could have a revenue impact on its operations in that country,” the company explained in a statement.

The country's controversial presidential election has been high on the media agenda, after the Internet and reportedly mobile communications have been blocked.

However, MTN says its networks are intact and are fully operational in the country. “MTN's voice, SMS and Internet services are operational as normal in Iran,” the company says.

According to MTN's last annual results presentation, the company has around 16 million subscribers in the country. MTN was also awarded a WiMax licence and spectrum in Iran last year.

The Iran operation was one of two within MTN that did not see declining margins in its financial report, and remains one of the faster growing in terms of subscribers. The company made over R4 billion in revenue in Iran last year, an increase of 216% over the same reporting period in 2007.

http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/telecoms/2009/0906251036.asp?O=FPTOP&S=Cellular&A=CEL