Tailored for MENA: LANCK Telecom Delivers Innovation and Trust

In the dynamic telecommunications landscape of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, staying ahead requires a nuanced understanding of local markets, robust security measures, and a pursuit of innovation. 

Mohammad Alwhaidi, LANCK Telecom’s Business Development Director and seasoned telecom veteran with almost 30 years of experience, leads our effort in the MENA region. In this article, he shares his thoughts and insights.

“Success in this market hinges on long-term partnerships and a keen understanding of local customer needs,” says Mohammad. At LANCK Telecom, we pride ourselves on a strategic approach that blends all the necessary elements to deliver unparalleled value to our partners. 

MENA Telecom Industry: Current Landscape and Challenges

The MENA region is a hotbed of growth in mobile penetration and internet subscribers, fueled by affordable data plans and rapid adoption of digital services. In 2023, smartphone penetration soared to 347 million people, with a predicted 44% increase in mobile service subscriptions by 2030. 

This growth and accelerated 5G deployment drive significant digital transformation and investment in new technologies across MENA countries. The surge in mobile data traffic—expected to almost double in 5 years—signals a clear shift from traditional voice and SMS to data-centric and OTT communication. 

At the same time, we can observe regulations regarding OTT services. Thus, some regional telecom sectors are generally heavily controlled by the government. Communication channels are subject to regulations focused on data protection, content restrictions, and supporting local service providers. While some popular apps like WhatsApp and Messenger are available for text messaging, their voice and video call features are blocked. 

Fraud is another significant challenge for all telecom market players worldwide, including MENA. The most common issues are artificially generated traffic, sender ID spoofing, smishing, Wangiri calls, SIM swapping, and impersonation fraud. 

We take into account all the unique characteristics and challenges of the region and tailor our solutions accordingly. 

Over a Decade of Commitment to MENA

LANCK Telecom’s journey in the Middle East began in 2011 and continues today. 

Our dedication is evident in our continuous efforts to build trust and strong relationships with operators, aggregators, and enterprise customers, which are reinforced by our reliability, timely payments, fair dispute resolution, and team of professional employees.

Today, we have direct interconnections with all major telecom giants and niche operators across every country in the region, with particularly strong positions in the UAE, Iran, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Our voice and SMS traffic volumes in MENA continue to grow gradually each year, with a recent significant increase from key deals with e&, Telecom Egypt, Viber, and many others.

Services and Solutions Tailored for MENA

LANCK Telecom has strategically developed enduring partnerships in the Middle East, offering premium voice termination, messaging solutions, international roaming, and anti-fraud technology. With a deep understanding of the region’s needs, we position ourselves as a 0-hop operator and provide an extensive suite of solutions.

Revenue Growth and Traffic Optimization

We help operators achieve revenue targets by recovering traffic lost to gray routes and enhancing monetization. In voice, we focus on origin-based rates (OBR) and optimize routing and billing by origin country. In messaging, we provide termination for regional and international traffic.

Comprehensive Voice and Messaging Solutions

We improve regional connectivity with a seamless integration of voice and messaging, delivering a unified communication solution. Our expertise also covers innovative roaming and eSIM solutions to meet the changing demands of mobile users and telcos.

Strategic Partnerships and Direct Connections

We forge direct connections with key operators to minimize intermediaries and ensure quality routes. Collaborating with regulators in markets like the UAE, we facilitate compliance with sender registration and whitelisting, simplifying the registration process with a pre-approved sender database for efficient traffic delivery.

Flexible and Transparent Approach

We put forward flexible billing and competitive pricing for telecom players in the Middle East. Our special messaging offers help address rising costs and declining SMS traffic, providing a competitive edge for partners.

Advanced AI-Driven Fraud Prevention

LANCK Telecom’s in-house FMS effectively detects and prevents fraud in voice and SMS traffic, achieving a 99.8% accuracy rate. This includes robocalls, spam, scams, and more. By integrating AI with real-time monitoring, the FMS minimizes financial losses and enhances operational efficiency, ensuring secure communication for partners.

Driving Innovation in MENA: LANCK Telecom’s Path Forward

The future of telecom in MENA is characterized by predictable growth and saturation points within the next five years. This will necessitate further technology deployment, including advanced AI solutions and automation.

Our vision aligns with this trajectory, focusing on leveraging these advancements to enhance service delivery. The continued demand for data services, intensified 5G deployment, and the emergence of 6G will further shape the market with a significant shift toward OTT communication. 

LANCK Telecom is strategically positioned to lead this evolution, with a proven track record of innovation: our focus on AI-driven fraud prevention and comprehensive voice and messaging services ensures we are prepared for the technological demands of the future.

We are planning to expand operations in the MENA region, particularly in Egypt, Kuwait, and Oman, where we see significant growth opportunities. With Egypt’s vast market of 100 million subscribers and Oman’s access to six additional countries through the Zain brand, we aim to boost voice and messaging traffic. 

At LANCK Telecom, we recognize the importance of fostering valuable partnerships through attending key exhibitions, including Middle East GCCM, Capacity Middle East, iFX Expo Dubai, and others. 

We Are a Trusted Partner

At LANCK Telecom, we believe that true success in the MENA region is built on a foundation of trust and strong relationships.

We Speak Your Language

Our commitment to personalized support includes local representatives and regional experts who understand MENA culture and business environment nuances. 

As Mohammad Alwhaidi notes, the MENA region is rich in history and culture, characterized by hospitable and supportive people. We understand that tough situations occur, negotiations often lead to win-win situations, a philosophy we integrate into our partnerships.

Care and Relationships

Industry-wide recognition, customer testimonials, equitable dispute settlement, prompt payments, and competent employees significantly contribute to establishing trust over time. 

Our dedication to clients was recognized with a win in the “Customer Experience Excellence” category at the CC-Global Awards 2024.

Ready to explore how LANCK Telecom can optimize your operations and enhance your security in the MENA region? Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and discover the power of a successful partnership.