Orascom Investment Holding

Name

Orascom Investment Holding

Legal name

Orascom Investment Holding S.A.E.

Website

https://orascomih.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cairo

HQ country

Egypt

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Telecom Operations: Revenue generated from telecommunications operations including Koryolink in North Korea (75% ownership), management of Alfa network in Lebanon (majority shares), and cable network management through TWA in Pakistan (51% stake).
2. Destination Development: Revenue from urban entertainment destinations and cultural venues including the Sound & Light show at Giza Pyramids. Investment estimated at 200 million EGP with focus on transforming visitor experiences at historical sites.
3. Investment Returns: Returns from diversified investment portfolio targeting high-growth sectors including Tourism & Destination Development, Renewable Energy & Electrical Mobility, Trading & Logistics and Telecom.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Orascom Investment Holding is a diversified investment holding company that owns and manages operating subsidiaries across telecom, destination development, financial services, and renewable energy. Core operating businesses include Koryolink (North Korea's first 3G mobile operator with 75% ownership), Alfa (Lebanon telecom network management covering 99% of land and 4.4 million people), Trans World Associates (51% stake in Pakistan's submarine cable TW1), and INARA/OSL (Giza Pyramids Sound & Light show with 20,100-seat venue and 100+ projection stations). The company also controls Beltone Financial Holding and has expanded into light mobility through the BluEV partnership.

Product overview

Orascom Investment Holding (OIH) is a diversified investment holding company operating in telecom and destination development sectors. The company operates through subsidiaries including Koryolink (3G mobile operator in North Korea with 3 million subscribers), Alfa (telecom network management in Lebanon covering 99% of land and 4.4 million people), and Trans World Associates (submarine fiber optic cable operator in Pakistan with 51% stake). In destination development, OIH operates INARA for the Giza Pyramids Sound & Light show and develops cultural/urban entertainment destinations in Egypt and Africa. The company traces its roots to Orascom Telecom, founded in 1997, and rebranded from Orascom Telecom Media & Technologies to OIH in 2018.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alfa: Lebanese mobile network operator managed by Orascom Telecom Lebanon, covering 99% of Lebanese land and reaching 4.4 million people
• Koryolink
• INARA
• OSL for Entertainment Projects

Products and services

• Koryolink North Korea's first 3G mobile operator, launched in 2009 as a joint venture with KPTC with OIH holding 75% ownership. Provided 3G mobile voice and data services to 3 million subscribers and was the sole mobile network operator in the country for 9 years.
• Alfa (Lebanon) One of two operating mobile networks in Lebanon, managed by OIH's majority-owned subsidiary Orascom Telecom Lebanon (OTL) under a management contract with the Ministry of Telecommunications. Covers 99% of Lebanese land, reaches 4.4 million people, and maintains roaming agreements with 214 operators across 109 countries.
• Trans World Associates (TWA) - TW1 submarine cable Pakistan's leading submarine fiber optic cable operator; established 2006 as a joint venture between Orastar Limited (UK) and Omzest group (Oman) with OIH holding 51%. Provides direct broadband and high-speed connectivity to telecom operators, ISPs, and major corporations. (OIH announced completion of sale of its shares in TWA in January 2022.)
• INARA - Giza Pyramids Sound & Light Show Cultural destination development project at the Giza Pyramids plateau operated by OIH's subsidiary INARA, featuring the Sound & Light show with 20,100 visitor seats, 13,500 square meters of land area, and 100+ video projection and light stations. Part of a broader plan to transform the area into an entertainment hub with restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and concert halls.
• Beltone Financial Holding - Financial Services and Brokerage Wholly-owned subsidiary of OIH (acquired in 2015) providing financial services and brokerage, including corporate finance, investment banking, and equity research through Beltone's subsidiaries including Auerbach Grayson.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3 million subscribers served in North Korea as first 3G operator
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• BluEVflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2023Partnership announced in May 2023 to make a leap in the light mobility industry in Egypt and beyond, transforming to green energy. Represents OIH's diversification into renewable energy and electrical mobility sector.
• KPTC (Korea Posts and Telecommunications Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Joint venture with North Korean state-owned KPTC to launch Koryolink, North Korea's first 3G mobile operator. OIH holds 75% ownership stake. The partnership provides telecommunications infrastructure as a public service to North Korean citizens.
• Ministry of Telecommunications LebanoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManagement contract for Alfa network, one of two operating networks in Lebanon. OIH owns majority shares of Orascom Telecom Lebanon S.A.L. (OTL) which manages Alfa on behalf of the Ministry.
• Trans World Associates (TWA)coreTechnology or IntegrationJoint venture between Orastar Limited of UK and Omzest group of Oman, with OIH owning majority shares (51%). TWA owns and operates submarine cable system TW1 providing broadband and high-speed connectivity to telecom operators, ISPs and major corporations in Pakistan.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• VEON Ltd: Global mobile telecommunications operator formed from the 2011 merger of VimpelCom and Wind Telecom (the Orascom Telecom parent). Closely comparable given shared heritage and similar emerging market mobile operator profile across Eurasia and Africa.
• MTN Group: South Africa-based multinational mobile telecommunications operator with operations across Africa and the Middle East. Directly comparable as a frontier and emerging market telecom holding with similar footprint in underserved MENA/Africa markets.
• e& (formerly Etisalat Group): UAE-based global telecom holding company operating across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Directly comparable as a MENA-headquartered telecom operator and investor with diversified portfolio across multiple emerging markets.
• Maroc Telecom: Morocco-headquartered telecom operator with significant stakes in subsidiaries across West and Central Africa (Mali, Burkina Faso, Gabon, etc.). Directly comparable as a MENA telecom operator with African expansion strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Helios Towers: London-listed telecom infrastructure company operating tower networks across Africa (Tanzania, DRC, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa, etc.). Comparable as an Africa-focused telecom infrastructure investor with operating country exposure similar to OIH's portfolio.
• Saudi Telecom Company (stc): Saudi Arabia's largest telecom operator with stakes in operators across MENA and Europe (Bahrain, Kuwait, Turkey via Oger Telecom). Comparable as a large MENA telecom holding with diversified investment portfolio.

Emerging players

• AXIAN Telecom: Pan-African telecom operator active in Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion, Mayotte, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal. Comparable as an emerging market-focused telecom operator with Africa-first strategy and significant infrastructure investments.
• Majid Al Futtaim Holding: UAE-based conglomerate operating shopping malls, hotels, and entertainment destinations across MENA and North Africa. Comparable as a MENA entertainment and destination development operator with similar tourism-focused subsidiary structure.

Others

• Actis: Global emerging markets private equity firm with significant investments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America across energy, infrastructure, and real estate. Comparable as an emerging market-focused investment vehicle with Africa concentration and Sawiris family-era connections (previously advised the OTH/OTMT Group).
• AURELIUS Equity Opportunities: European investment holding company that acquires and operates distressed and special situation assets across multiple sectors. Comparable as a diversified holding company pursuing opportunistic investments in operating businesses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OrascomIH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orascom-investment-holding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Orascom Investment Holding