Sulaimaniya, Iraq – Asiacell, a leading provider of quality mobile telecommunications services in Iraq, with 10.086 million subscribers as at the end of 2012, announced that its pioneer product for Iraqi women, Almas Line, has been selected as a finalist for the second consecutive year by the GSMA for its 2013 Global Mobile Awards. Almas Line was shortlisted in the “Best Mobile Product or Service for Women in Emerging Markets” category. Asiacell, the only Iraqi firm nominated, will proudly represent Iraq along some of the prestigious innovators of the technology industry such as Apple, Google , YouTube and Facebook which are also nominated.

By selecting Almas Line as a finalist, the GSMA has recognized the groundbreaking and innovative approach displayed by Asiacell in bridging the mobile phone gender gap. Almas Line was introduced in 2011. A year and half after launch of Almas Line, results have been spectacular by having indications showing 3.5 million female subscribers, half of which have joined since the launch of Almas line. Put differently, Asiacell has acquired in 19 months as many women subscribers as it had acquired in its first 11 years of operations!

Asiacell thus forecasts that the share of female subscribers in the customer base reached the figure of 36% by the End-Of-Year 2012. Asiacell’s contribution to closing the gender gap is thus highly tangible and measurable.

Almas Line features have been specifically tailored for Iraqi women: customized off-peak times, discounted tariffs, women-oriented VAS, etc. all of which account for its popularity among Iraqi women.

This exceptional recognition from the GSMA is a reward for the contribution Asiacell played over the past decade in constantly bringing innovations to the Iraqi people, and as such becoming a catalyst of the spectacular growth the country is experiencing.

“The competition this year was of an exceptionally high quality, breaking all previous records,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer at GSMA. “Our judging panel has assessed well over 600 entries and nominations for the 37 awards, the largest ever number of honors to be presented at the Global Mobile Awards. It is a tremendous achievement to have been shortlisted and we look forward to recognizing the winners at Mobile World Congress next month.”

“This award is an important recognition of the innovation and imagination that Asiacell is delivering to its female customers. We thank the GSMA for this nomination, and we look forward to continuing our work to bridge the mobile phone gender gap and drive the growth of Iraq’s digital sector”, said Faruk Mustafa Rasool, Asiacell Chairman. “Supporting the different components of Iraqi society, and especially women, is part of our ethical consideration and we intend to intensify our efforts to generate more growth and to add value to humanitarian field through our products and services”, Added Rasool.

Awat Ali
Media & Public Relations Department
Telephone: +9647701180551
Email: awat.ali@asiacell.com