New suite of products and services includes several Nawras firsts

Muscat, May 15, 2010: Nawras has announced the much anticipated launch of its pleasingly different fixed services for business customers, marking the start of a new era in broadband accessibility in Oman.  Nawras CEO Ross Cormack unveiled the eagerly awaited services during a press conference held today at Bait Al Baranda in Muscat, where he highlighted the news that business customers now have a choice in fixed services for the very first time.  Nawras has now transformed into a full service provider offering customers solutions to all their fixed, mobile and internet needs from a single reliable source.

With a wide portfolio of broadband internet, voice and data products, Nawras' new fixed services are suitable for businesses of any size--from small companies through to large corporations.  "Over the last five years Nawras has built a solid reputation for offering pleasingly different mobile services of excellent quality and reliability," says Cormack.  "Today, we are excited to be adding to this rewarding experience through the launch of our new fixed services.  We are ready to deliver our new products and services with innovative quality, great value and professional support."

The new portfolio of fixed services is built upon a solid foundation of three important elements.  Nawras is promising customers that their business will be able to benefit from innovative and reliable services with excellent quality, great value through competitive prices, and last but not least, professional account management and dependable after sales support.

Khalid Al-Mahmoud, Nawras chief operating officer, added that the new fixed services include a series of Nawras firsts. "With the introduction of convenient new services like Nawras Ethernet, SIP trunk, Nawras Business Group for mobile and fixed, as well as non-geographical numbers, customers have new choices that will enable them to get more from their business."

Nawras is introducing the first non-geographical numbering to conveniently and cost-effectively enable a business to keep the same fixed Nawras numbers even after relocating, while the use of SIP Trunks is another Nawras innovation that gives customers access to significantly more voice channels than currently being offered through legacy systems.  In addition, Nawras Leased Line gives customers the chance to enjoy Nawras connectivity without replacing their current equipment.

Great value is evident through attractive pricing including volume discounts. A range of data plans allows for a flexible approach with customers able to select the most suitable option for their needs.  Costs saving advantages continue with the Nawras Business Group service giving free mobile and fixed

calls among all employees within a company.  Further economies can be found in Nawras Carrier Select, which gives customers the option to use their existing landlines while benefiting from higher-quality calls and better rates for international calls thanks to Nawras' network.

Nawras understands that in business, it is crucial to know that suppliers of important services like telecom will be there with support long after the initial sale has been made.  Nawras professionals work in partnership with businesses, adding new benefits and developing innovative solutions to meet new challenges as companies grow and develop.  The highest calibre of professional account servicing and after-sales support includes a dedicated account manager. 

Nawras is proud to be an Omani company and also to be part of the Qtel Group, which gives the added benefit of expertise and experience from this diversified telecommunications company with a presence in 17 different countries.  The Qtel Group is providing voice and data services to people and businesses, and bringing advanced technology to more than 60 million customers worldwide.

During the launch event, Cormack extended a warm welcome and congratulations to Fareed Al Hinai, vice chairman of Imtac, and the first corporate customer to start benefiting from the new Nawras fixed services. 

Commenting on his company's experience, Al Hinai said, "Our own vision of developing human capital and a world-class infrastructure in Oman is very much in line with Nawras' own identity, and we are delighted to be the first users of the new fixed services.   We have been a Nawras mobile customer for the last five years, and are now experiencing the same high quality of care and excellent delivery of Nawras fixed services. "

Spanning most of the country, three fibre-optic cable rings make up the backbone network for the new fixed services.  Major corporations will be served with their own fibre connection, offering a secure communication provision with excellent quality.  WiMAX base stations will further connect the Sultanate, delivering a same-day, Plug 'n' Play wireless internet link to almost all other small and medium size businesses.

Recently named as 'Leader in Telecommunications'  at the Arab Investment Summit, Nawras is more than ready to serve customers of its fixed services with an unwavering dedication to its mission of being the communications provider of choice in Oman.

-Ends- 

About Nawras:
Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company SAOC was founded and registered in the Sultanate of Oman in December 2004. It launched its service in March 2005 as the second mobile operator in Oman operating under the name Nawras. Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company SAOC is majority owned by the Qtel Group, the leading telecommunications provider in Qatar and one of the world's leading telecommunications companies. Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company SAOC also has a number of significant Omani shareholders which ensures that the company is strongly integrated into the Omani society. In 2009, Nawras was awarded the second fixed licence in Oman and became a full service provider with the launch of its fixed services in mid 2010. Nawras has won a number of awards including Customer Service Provider of the Year 2009 and Middle East Mobile Operator of the Year 2007 from CommsMEA, Above and Beyond the Call of Duty at the World BSS Awards and Best Telecom Brand Oman in 2007, 2008 and 2009 by Business Today, a leading local business magazine.

For more information about our pleasingly different services, visit us at www.nawras.om.

About the Qtel Group:
The Qtel Group is a diversified telecommunications company with a presence in 17 countries, providing voice and data services to people and businesses, and bringing advanced technology to more than 60 million customers. We are committed to expansion in the MENA region, where we are the largest telecommunications company by number of operations, and South East Asia. Our vision is to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world by 2020. 

For further information, please contact:
Julie Amann
Press Manager, Nawras
Mobile: +968 9510 3669
Email: julie.amann@nawras.om 

© Press Release 2010