Qatar Telecom (Qtel) subsidiary Nawras (the Omani-Qatari Telecommunications Company) has been granted an Oman government licence to install and operate a common fixed telecommunications services system.

In other developments, Qtel and Tata Communications announced a strategic alliance that will strengthen both companies’ network reach in the region and internationally.
Qtel also said its $1.5-billion debut bond sale was more than eight times oversubscribed, as bids exceeded $13 billion.
The bond sale, part of a $5 billion global medium-term note programme that will be used partly to refinance existing debt, follows the Qatari government’s $3 billion benchmark bond launched in early April.

Range of technologies
With the new Oman licence, Nawras is now entitled to provide fixed, data and international telecommunication services in the sultanate, and can use its network infrastructure to offer a range of technologies such as Wi-Max and HSDPA services.
Nawras can operate a fixed telecommunications services system for 25 years, with frequency spectrum rights granted for 15 years.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, chairman, Qtel, said: “This is a historic moment for Nawras and for the wider Qtel Group, as it enables us to begin to offer a full range of services to the people of Oman, and to deliver our commitment to quality for fixed line customers as well as mobile customers. Across our operations, Qtel continues to strive to provide the widest possible portfolio of world-class communication solutions.” With the issuance of the new fixed line licence, Nawras is now positioned to grow its business outside of its core mobile communications area to serve a new wave of fixed line customers.
Since its launch in 2005 as the second operator in Oman, Nawras has provided a range of innovations for the GSM market, growing to over 1.6 million customers and achieving a market share of more than 45 per cent by the end of the first quarter of 2009.
As part of its strategy for development, the company plans to operate its own international gateway to provide higher quality and capacity for both fixed and mobile customers. Nawras also has clear plans to play its part in meeting the sultanate’s Broadband vision.

Alliance with Tatas
Under the terms of the alliance with Tata, both companies will align their infrastructures and work together to provide secure, scalable and flexible connectivity solutions including Ethernet, MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) and a wide variety of managed services to their global customers.
Ahmed Al-Derbesti, executive director, Qtel International Services, said: “Qtel has a clear strategy in place to deliver the strongest possible communications framework for the growth of business in Qatar today. Partnership with companies like Tata Communications, which is a recognised leader in communications solutions, is a core part of that development strategy.”
The agreement complements the ambitious growth strategies of both companies. Qtel looks to providing its clients with world-class communication services and the capacity to expand internationally. Tata Communications continues to build connectivity into emerging markets to better serve its customers.
Vinod Kumar, president and COO of Tata Communications, said: “Joining hands with Qtel is a winning proposition for Tata Communications as it lends an invaluable perspective to our mission of delivering seamless connectivity and flagship communications services to customers with diverse and widespread network needs.”