Qtel signs Microsoft as a strategic partner (Middle East)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A broad strategic alliance has been signed between Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Microsoft for the development of integrated cloud-based services, software applications, mobile services and devices over Qtel’s converged networks.
Qtel’s service portfolio is aimed to be expanded through this partnership which includes corporate and consumer-focused applications. The first resultant products planned to be on the market by mid-2010.
Joint sales and marketing, solutions collaboration and corporate citizenship initiatives are some of the other work streams where Qtel and Microsoft intend to engage together. According to Microsoft spokesperson, the pair will collaborate on the development of emerging technologies to create innovative solutions for Qtel customers.
Qatar Telecom & Huawei sign group-wide framework agreement
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A group- wide framework agreement has been signed between Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and China’s Huawei Technologies. Qtel’s long-term development strategy across international markets has been supported by the deal in which Huawei is required to provide mobile radio infrastructure including its ‘Single RAN’ base stations alongside circuit switch and packet switch core and transmission systems besides providing solutions and services.
Standard terms and volume-based discounted pricing for network equipment will be available to Qtel group companies under the agreement. The initial term of the deal is one year and can be extended at Qtel’s discretion for up to two additional years.
BellTel sale receives green signal by NTC (Philippines)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The proposal for transfer of ownership of Bell Telecommunications Philippines Inc (BellTel) has been approved by the Philippines’ telecoms regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The ownership would be transferred to Two Cassandra-CCI Conglomerates, a holding company that once owned a small stake in Liberty Telecoms Holdings, which was bought by San Miguel Corp (SMC) together with partner Qatar Telecoms.
The move will result into PHP3.6 billion (USD78 million) cash injection into BellTel. 40% stake in BellTel was acquired by Two Cassandra on December 18, 2009 and both the parties signed an agreement according to which Cassandra will buy the remaining six million shares or 60% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BellTel after the NTC approves the change in ownership.
Two minority shareholders of BellTel, South China Resources Inc. and Liberty Flour Mills Inc also sold off their stakes to Two Cassandra.
Qatar telecom plans increased investment in Iraq, Algeria
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Due to potential for expansion in the Iraqi and Algerian telecoms markets, Qatar telecom is contemplating increased investments in the two countries.
According to the CEO of Qatar Telecom (Qtel), Nasser Marafih, the global financial crisis had some positive impact on Qtel’s businesses in the sense that the lowering of license fees worldwide to a ‘more realistic’ level meant it was cheaper to expand into new markets. He also feels that the lower prices will create further opportunities for Qtel’s acquisitions in the future.
36.2% of mobile operator Wataniya Telecom Algeria (Nedjma) is controlled by Qtel via 71% stake held by Kuwaiti-based Wataniya Telecom (NMTC). 14 communication companies in 17 countries are currently controlled by Qtel. However, all the plans to expand the business in the African market are abandoned by the company due to tough competition.
Philippines to get new WiMAX operator
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A new WiMAX operator is set to enter the Philippines telecom market as Liberty Telecommunications Holdings (Liberty Telecom) is ready to launch its commercial network soon.
Backed by San Miguel Corp and Qatar Telecom, the company has already trialed a free pilot service to selected clients in Metro Manila, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati and Quezon City and now plans to begin a full-blown service.
The operator holds 40MHz of bandwidth in the 2.5GHz-2.7GHz range and aims to keep the prices lower than its rival with the rates as little as PHP250 (USD5.45) per month.
Qtel’s 3.5G network upgraded to 14.4Mbps
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The next phase of mobile broadband network upgradation of Qatar Telecom (Qtel) will be completed by February. After the process, internet download speeds up to a theoretical maximum of 14.4Mbps would be provided over Qtel’s HSDPA platform. The company claims this speed to be the fastest in the country.
The upgradation process which began in the last quarter of 2009 involved the replacement of base station equipment across Qatar and enhanced connectivity being introduced across the network.
Besides, a trial of 14.4Mbps compatible devices has also been initiated by Qtel, benefitting the users of 3.5G mobile phones, USB modems and datacards by improving downstream data speeds and enhanced quality of services.
Service line won’t be affected due to delays to fixed line award, says Vodafone Qatar
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Corporate governance issues has again led to the delay, this time until the first quarter of the next year, in the official award of Qatar’s second fixed line license to Vodafone Qatar.
In September 2008, the British-Qatari joint venture was declared the winner of the second national operator (SNO) license, with commercial fixed line services originally mooted for 2009, whilst in the meantime it broke the monopoly of Qatar Telecom (Qtel) with the launch of 2G/3G services in July 2009.
According to William Fagan, the head of the country’s regulator, ictQATAR , Vodafone Qatar and its local investor Qatar Foundation had still not formed the actual company that will be awarded the fixed license. In order to launch fixed line services before the end of 2010, he expects all problems to be resolved early in the next year.
Q-Tel finalising three acquisitions, papers say
Qatar Telecommunications Co (Q-Tel) is reported in the Doha press to be close to finalising three telecom acquisitions, in a bid to diversify its operations ahead of domestic liberalisation next year. According to Q-Tel’s chief operating officer David Murray, his company has concluded talks with governments in three Muslim countries and will be either acquiring stakes in existing operators or be awarded new licences; he declined to give specifics. ‘The deals are done. They are in the final stages of approval by the relevant government authorities,’ Murray is quoted as having said. As it stands Q-Tel holds a controlling interest in Nawras, the second mobile operator in Oman. It also bid USD2.3 billion for Egypt’s third mobile phone licence in July, but lost out to Emirates Telecommunications Company (Etisalat).
Qatar is expected to end Q-Tel’s domestic telecoms monopoly by awarding a second telecom licence next year. A new telecoms law is currently being drafted by the regulator which will outline how the country will open up telecom services to competition.
Source- http://www.telegeography.com
