Qatar Telecom to launch femtocell trial

On 03.12.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With an aim to improve the quality of wireless connectivity in homes and offices, trials of femtocell technology has been launched by Qatar Telecom (Qtel). The trial will be carried out on a limited basis in several business premises as well as private residencies using femtocells.

This will act as low power indoor wireless access points, directly connected to Qtel’s broadband network. It has been anticipated by the operator that by providing enhanced signal strength, the femtocell technology will improve 3G mobile internet access within buildings.

Besides the quality of mobile voice calls will also be improved, 60% of which are made indoors in Qatar.

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Qatar Telecom & Tata partnership confirmed

On 03.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The partnership between India’s Tata Communications and Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has been confirmed by both the companies. The deal for the construction of the Tata Global Network (TGN) Gulf Project will see Qtel establish a landing station for the regional undersea network.

The main aim of the project is the connection of the world’s major business hubs and city centers with the Gulf region.
Besides providing the foundations for next generation communications technology, the new network will also improve connectivity. Bahrain Internet Exchange consortium, Nawras of Oman, Mobily of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Etisalat of the United Arab Emirates are the other regional partners in the project.

Deployment of an extended portfolio of advanced telecommunications services will also be supported by the development of the cable project, scheduled to be completed by 2011. The services will include- Global Ethernet, MPLS-based VPN and Global Telepresence.

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Qatar Telecom reports increase in turnover

On 03.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Consolidated group financial and operational results for 2009 has been posted by Qatar Telecom in which 20.5% increase in the net profit attributable to shareholders has been revealed, going up from up from QAR2.3 billion in 2008 to QAR2.8 billion (USD765 million) in the full-year. The company showed 15.1 percent increase in the EBITDA going up to QAR 11.3 billion.

The consolidated customer base of the group stood at 60.5 million at December 31, 2009. Entry of Qtel’s first mobile competitor, Vodafone Qatar affected the domestic EBITDA which fell to QAR3.3 billion.

The Indonesian unit of the company, Indosat’s subscriber base at end-December 2009 stood at 33.7 million, down from 37.0 million a year earlier. Removal of a significant proportion of the lower-value, calling card type behavior subscribers’ from its base over the twelve-month period has been cited as reason behind this decrease.

The total active subscribers of Asiacell increased by 20.4% during 2009 as a result of which the year closed at 7.35 million, revenue increased by  40.4% to QAR4.0 billion and EBITDA increased by 43.9% to QAR2.2 billion.

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Kuwait’s Wataniya net profit declines by 22.5%

On 03.03.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: With a year-on-year loss of 22.5%, a net profit of KWD11 million (USD37.9 million) has been posted by Kuwait-based National Mobile Telecommunications Company (Wataniya), for the fourth quarter of 2009.

However, its full year net profit was up to KWD108.3 million in 2009, from KWD82.4 million in 2008. No reasons have been revealed by the company behind its declining bottom line.

Its parent company Qatar Telecom (QTel) is also expected to release its preliminary results for the full year 2009 soon, with a full disclosure scheduled for March 7. Wataniya’s operating market includes Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.

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Qtel signs Microsoft as a strategic partner (Middle East)

On 02.19.10, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

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Qatar Telecom & Huawei sign group-wide framework agreement

On 02.15.10, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

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Qatar telecom plans increased investment in Iraq, Algeria

On 02.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

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Wataniya finally launches in West Bank.

On 11.12.09, In Mobile, By Editor
Wataniya Mobile finally began operations after months of disputes with Israel. This will break Paltels monopoly and is likely to drive down prices.
Qtel owns 57% of Wataniya Palestine and the remainder is owned by  the public Palestine Investment Fund. Wataniya has invested USD 100 Million already and a further $700m is planned over the next decade.
Current penetration in the west bank is only 35% which Wireless Federation expects to go up rapidly following the launch of Wataniya. Paltel currently has 1.5 million Palestinian subscribers.
Wataniya said it has received only 3.8MHz of bandwidth from Israel, instead of the 4.8MHz that had been promised. Without this Wataniya will not be able to launch 3G services.

Wataniya Mobile finally began operations after months of disputes with Israel. This will break Paltels monopoly and is likely to drive down prices.

Qtel owns 57% of Wataniya Palestine and the remainder is owned by  the public Palestine Investment Fund. Wataniya has invested USD 100 Million already and a further $700m is planned over the next decade.

Current penetration in the west bank is only 35% which Wireless Federation expects to go up rapidly following the launch of Wataniya. Paltel currently has 1.5 million Palestinian subscribers.

Wataniya said it has received only 3.8MHz of bandwidth from Israel, instead of the 4.8MHz that had been promised. Without this Wataniya will not be able to launch 3G services.

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Smart Roamer service launched by Asiacell (Iraq)

On 09.13.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news:  Asiacell, an Iraqi mobile operator, launched its Smart Roamer Service. This offers all Asiacell subscribers roaming facilities with no additional registration procedures.

Subscribers would now benefit from discounted rates of local calls as well as call back to Iraq and to other countries within the Smart Roamer Zone. Also, the service offers a fixed rate for receiving calls and sending SMS within the Smart Roamer Zone. The Smart Roamer Service includes a number of selected operators within the Smart Roamer Zone, these include the likes of Etisalat in the United Arab Emirates, Orange in Jordan, Qtel in Qatar, Nawras in Oman, Wataniya in Kuwait and Turkcell in Turkey.

Asiacell, an Iraqi mobile operator, launched its Smart Roamer Service. This offers all Asiacell subscribers roaming facilities with no additional registration procedures.
Subscribers would now benefit from discounted rates of local calls as well as call back to Iraq and to other countries within the Smart Roamer Zone. Also, the service offers a fixed rate for receiving calls and sending SMS within the Smart Roamer Zone. The Smart Roamer Service includes a number of selected operators within the Smart Roamer Zone, these include the likes of Etisalat in the United Arab Emirates, Orange in Jordan, Qtel in Qatar, Nawras in Oman, Wataniya in Kuwait and Turkcell in Turkey.
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