Syriatel is one of two mobile network providers in Syria,[1] the others being MTN Syria.[2][3] Syriatel offers LTE with 150 Mb/s speeds, under the brand name Super Surf.[4] It is headquartered on Sehnaya Road in Damascus.
History
Syriatel was founded in January 2000, with its headquarters in Damascus, Syria. The Government licenses two private companies to supply mobile phone services, Syriatel and "94". Orascom provided the management. The license with the Government was a Build-own-transfer (BOT) contract for 15 years.[5]
In 2011 the European Union imposed sanctions on Syriatel in order to intensify pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.[6]
In 2017 Syriatel introduced 4G speeds offering 150 Mb/s speeds, branded Super Surf.[4] On 5 June 2020, a Syrian court ordered Syriatel be placed under judicial custody.[7]
Ownership
Board of Directors
As per official disclosure (15 February 2026) for the period ending 31 December 2025.[8]
- Executive President / CEO: Murid Sakhr Al-Atasi
History
When the company was founded in 2000, Syriatel was owned by the Egyptian telecommunications company Orascom (25%) and Rami Makhlouf (75%), a cousin of then-Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.[9][10] In 2003, Orascom sold its ownership in Syriatel.[11]
Until the fall of the Assad regime, the company was owned by Rami Makhlouf.[9][10] The company had approximately 3,500 employees and 8 million customers as of 2016.[12]
As of 2025, major shareholders include Ahmed Yahya Maqsouma (18.39%) and others, per official disclosures, reflecting diffused post-Makhlouf ownership amid ongoing economic reconfiguration.[13]
Technologies
Syriatel operate a network of GSM 900 / 1800 & 3G 2100 & 4G 1800 cellular networks.
References
- Syria awards mobile phone licences BBC News, 22 January 2001, retrieved 18 January 2020^
- MTN Syria 2010 Profit Up 83% to $132 Million on Customer Rise Bloomberg.com, 21 February 2011, retrieved 18 January 2020^
- Syria awards third mobile telecoms licence to Wafa -state media Reuters, 2022-02-21, retrieved 2022-05-06^
- Super Surf | Syriatel www.syriatel.sy, retrieved 15 January 2022^
- Daniel Fleming. Global Challenges - Local Responses An Institutional Perspective on Economic Transformation in Asia Roskilde University, 2006^
- EU sanctions target mobile phone Syriatel Reuters, 2011-09-24, retrieved 2022-05-15^
- Syrian court orders Syriatel placed under judicial custody Reuters, June 5, 2020, retrieved June 5, 2020^
- https://www.scfms.sy/pages/photos/a177149594516aاستمارة%20الإفصاح.pdf^
- Syria crackdown condemned by US BBC News, 21 March 2011, retrieved 18 January 2020^
- Syria begins shakedown of wealthiest businessmen as war debts spiral The Telegraph, 25 December 2019, retrieved 18 January 2020^
- Orascom completes ownership pull out from Syriatel Al Bawaba, retrieved 2022-05-03^
- Syriatel Mobile Telecom, About LinkedIn, retrieved 2021-10-20^
- هيئة الأوراق و الأسواق المالية السورية - Syriatel Mobile Telecom S.A. retrieved January 10, 2026^