Echorouk’s Forum: CEO of Wataniya Telecom's Nedjma says 1,600 Algerian executives behind brilliance

Wataniya Telecom's Nedjma is an Algerian corporation par excellence with its staff, environment and faithful customers, said CEO Joseph Jed. Algeria’s third private mobile operator counts around 5 million subscribers and 1,600 employees including 23 foreigners.

• Joseph Jed told Echorouk that Nedjma is working on increasing its investments either by extending its network or charity projects.
• The General Manager revealed an agreement between the third operator and the Algerian Red Crescent. A $1.5 billion investment is expected in the end of 2008.
• “Nedjma has proved that Algeria’s market is ready for third generation services,” he said.
• Speaking on the company’s future perspectives, He mentioned that 2009 will no doubt be a year of gains. On the other hand, he denied rumours that Nedjma would be sold to a private operator. “The Qatari company Qtel is supporting its branch with huge investments as the Algerian market is promising in this field.”
• According to Jed, Nadjma’s distinguished marketing and media policy is a result of Algerians’ loyalty to its slogan “I love it and I love who loves it.”
• “Our investments are about to reach $3.1 billion and we will achieve 1.5 billion by the end of 2008”
• After 4 years in telecommunications market, the third operator Nedjma achieved about $1.3 billion investment and it is expected to reach $1.5 billion by the end of 2008.
• The General Manager said 2009 will be a years of gains for Algerians by increasing manpower especially after launching the third generation services.
• Nedjma is also working on becoming the leader in the third generation market.
• Joseph Jed said Qtel, one of the important telecommunication companies in the Middle East gives a big importance to its branch in Algeria which it considers as the corner stone of its investments.
• Nedjma ready for third generation services
• Nedjma is totally ready to launch the third generation services in Algeria. “It is a natural progress of plural media Nedjma was the leader to have launched it in Algeria since 2004.”
• Jed said the decision of communication and telecommunication regularisation authorities to operate these services in Algeria at present was totally right. “It’s time to operate them and all Algerians are ready to receive them.”

• 98 percent of Nedjma’s staff Algerians
• Nedjma’s CEO said his company is based on Algerian manpower with 98 percent of its staff. “It adopted the strategy of training and transferring experiences from foreign employees to Algerian executives.” In this regard, it has trained a large number of Algerian employees instead of bringing foreign manpower.
• Nedjma’s “unlimited offer” is limited at 10,000 DA
• Nedjma’s CEO made things clear about ambiguity on the operator’s new offer relating to an unlimited calls SIM card toward all networks and at anytime.
• “This first offer in Algeria, Morocco and even in the Middle East is typically for the category of which calls cost 4,000 to 10,000 Algerian dinars,” he said.
• Jed denied any confusion on the expression “unlimited offer but without exaggeration.”  Much ink has been spilled over this new offer which opened door to many interpretations raising doubts on its credibility.
• “If any subscriber in this offer goes beyond 10,000 DA of calls, he or she will be contacted and informed of the necessity of reloading to continue using the SIM card.”
• Nedjma has broken up monopoly and reduced prices in mobile phone market
• Echorouk’s guest said mobile phone prices went down after Nedjma had entered competition as a third operator. “Nedjma has broken up monopoly and prices.”
• “The number of subscribers has increased by 10 times for 4 years. It shifted from around 2 million when Nedjma came to Algeria in 2004 to 24 million now.”
• According to Jed, Nedjma managed to get a considerable share of subscribers estimated at 22 percent, equivalent to 5 million. “It is a great achievement in a short time.”
• Joseph Jed: An international expertise in service of Algeria
• Joseph Jed was born in 1968 in Beirut, Lebanon. He got a communication engineering degree from the US University in Lebanon in 199. In Canada, he obtained a master degree in applied sciences in telecommunication at a polytechnic school. Then, he got a diploma in management from Boston University.
• Joseph Jed held sensitive positions in a number of big world telecommunications corporations in Canada, US and Brazil. He moved to Europe to accomplish strategic missions in leader telecommunication ventures in Croatia and Ukraine. He also had been working in Asia and Africa until he went to Wataniya Telecom in May 2004. He won a first challenge when he managed to cover 48 provinces in 18 months. The, he was assigned to accomplish strategic missions in marketing and could raise sales after he had been appointed as an assistant general manager. In September 2007, he held the position of Chief Executive Official of Nedjma.
• On March 24th 2008, Joseph Jed was chosen among top managers at the six fastest growing mobile phone operators in the Middle East.  
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