Recent core upgrade boosts capacity to serve 30 per cent more customers

Muscat, 17 June 2012 - Nawras, Oman's customer friendly communications provider, is thrilled to have begun the journey of turbocharging the Nawras network to give customers a more rewarding experience.  Recent successful completion of the first stage involved a core network upgrade which immediately boosted capacity to enable Nawras to serve 30 per cent more customers with fast mobile broadband.

"Customers have been telling us that they noticed the difference in their mobile browsing experience recently and this is only the beginning," explained Nawras Chief Executive Officer, Ross Cormack. "We will shortly be starting the major work of turbocharging the entire network which will massively extend 3G+ coverage and see the exciting introduction of 4G LTE providing a superfast broadband internet service. We have already completed successful 4G trials and will be sharing more information on this extensive transformation programme very soon."

In addition to the huge increase in 3G coverage and the 4G LTE launch, new sites will be introduced in many areas and the WiMAX home broadband network extended even further.  Nawras coverage will reach deeper into customers' houses as well as major shopping centres and office complexes.

Cormack added, "We are investing in the world's cutting edge communications technology as we future proof our network and this will lead to major benefits of increased speed and better quality for customers with greater cost efficiency for our business."

Recognising the importance of the recently announced TRA initiative to provide services for lower populated areas, the growing Nawras network will also deliver services to 75 villages in these locations.  People living in these remote places will soon be able to benefit from communication opportunities that they have never had before.

Exciting technology developments are constantly taking place and the communications industry never stops evolving.  Nawras is turbocharging its network to benefit from the best of these advances in order to continue delighting customers with innovative products and services that match the changing ways that people get closer.

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Nawras:
Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company SAOG was founded and registered in the Sultanate of Oman in December 2004. It launched its service in March 2005 as the challenger mobile operator in Oman operating under the name Nawras. Nawras was awarded the second fixed licence in Oman in 2009, and launched its international gateway in April 2010, its corporate fixed and broadband services in May 2010, and its residential fixed and broadband services in June 2010. Since 2010 Nawras has been an integrated services telecommunications operator and is currently serving around 2 million customers across the Sultanate. Following a successful IPO, Nawras is listed on the Muscat Stock Market (MSM) under the "nwrs" ticker since 1 November 2010.  Nawras is majority owned by the Qtel Group and also has a number of significant Omani shareholders which ensures that the company is strongly integrated into the Omani society. Nawras has won a number of awards including Customer Service Excellence Award in Telecom Sector 2012 from Oman Customer Care Conference, Innovation in HR Strategy 2011 from Asia's Best Employer Brand Awards, Outstanding Leader from TMT Finance Middle East 2011, Best IPO in the Middle East from emeafinance magazine and Strategic Leadership Award from Global HR Excellence Awards 2011.

About Qtel Group:
The Qtel Group is a leading international communications company, with a significant presence in the MENA region and Southeast Asia, and having a consolidated customer base of 83.4 million as of December 2011. It operates a portfolio of brands including Qtel, Indosat, Asiacell, Wataniya, Nawras, Nedjma and Tunisiana.

The Qtel Group's principle activities are mobile telephone services, broadband solutions, digital futures and fibre technologies, serving both consumer and business markets. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, Qtel Group is ambitiously growing its global business on the basis of its insights into the needs of customers in emerging markets. Qtel Group's ultimate parent company is Qatar Telecom (Qtel) Q.S.C., whose shares are listed on the Qatar Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

For further information please contact:
Julie Amann
Press Manager
e-mail: julie.amann@nawras.om
+968 9510 3669

© Press Release 2012