The Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company, branded as “Nawras”, launched its services as the second mobile operator, in March 2005, breaking the 20-year monopoly of the Oman MobileOman Mobile Telecommunications Company. As one of the first 3G implementers in the country, Nawras extended its services to mobile broadband Internet, mobile info browsing, video calling and video monitoring.

Nawras Telecom Consortium, formed by QtelQtel, TDC and Omani partners, won the second integrated fixed-line telecommunications license, in November 2008, after PCCW-Awaser Oman failed to meet the obligations set by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of OmanTelecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman, this broke Oman Telecommunications Company [Omantel] monopoly.

Nawras’ mobile subscribers reached 1.5million, by the end of 2008, a 48.57% increase from the previous year.

The company announced, in 2008, that it plans to invest in the latest generation fiber optic backbone and WiMAX wireless access networks across Oman. In the first two years of its plan, Nawras will expand the wireless broadband service to five governorates and 14 states.