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Nawras GCC SmartRoamer rates are already lower than new TRA targets

Muscat, 13 February 2012 - Nawras, Oman's customer friendly communications provider, continues to lead the telecommunications market in Oman with attractive GCC roaming rates that are offering fantastic value for customers as well as making it easier to get closer when travelling. While the TRA is requesting other operators to lower their rates, Nawras is already offering SmartRoamer tariffs that are considerably lower than the new Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) targets for customers roaming in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, while the new GCC regulations are limited to a reduction in the tariff of voice calls only, Nawras SmartRoamer introduced reductions in SMS and data as well as voice, making it easier for customers to communicate when travelling.

As part of a Qtel Group initiative, Nawras first reduced roaming rates on voice, SMS and data services through the introduction of SmartRoamer in June 2009. Since then, this service has been giving roaming rates as low as 99 Baizas per minute when calling within a visited GCC country and as low as 199 Baizas per minute when calling back to Oman or when calling any other GCC country while roaming within the GCC.

For nearly three years, customers have been benefitting from this great value every time they communicate from any GCC country using their Nawras SIM card.

Through SmartRoamer, GCC roaming rates were cut by more than 60% on voice, more than 80% on wireless data services and over 25% for SMS. This significant reduction in data charges is particularly useful for travelling business customers who can check emails and browse the web while benefitting from these highly competitive rates.

The SmartRoamer service gives all Nawras customers the potential to enjoy considerable savings when making local calls in any of the GCC countries as well as when calling back home to Oman. Rates are applied automatically so there is no need for any kind of registration to benefit from these rates; SmartRoamer service automatically extends the low rates to all Nawras customers travelling in the GCC.

"When we introduced SmartRoamer in 2009 we cut calling rates from GCC countries from around 500 Baizas per minute to only 199 Baizas per minute," said Ross Cormack, Chief Executive Officer. "Nawras customers have been getting this fantastic rate ever since. Our customers are getting great savings with rates that are even lower than those announced recently by the TRA.

"We slashed our data roaming prices even further, reducing them from around RO 6 per MB to only RO 1.199 and these are still very competitive rates today. SmartRoamer gives Nawras customers amazing value when travelling because it costs much less to surf the net or call home to the family when using networks that are part of the scheme," he added.

Nawras is thrilled to offer SmartRoamer so customers can enjoy attractive calling and data packages right across the region with Qtel in Qatar, Batelco in Bahrain, STC/Al Jawal and Mobily in Saudi Arabia, Etisilat in UAE and Wataniya in Kuwait.

Customers can find more details about this great value service by visiting the Nawras website at www.nawras.om or any Nawras Store. Alternatively, a free SMS with the keyword Smart can be sent to 1500.

With SmartRoamer and its roaming partners, Nawras is helping customers to get closer to friends, family and business colleagues when travelling abroad.

-Ends-

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 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 the Qtel Group
The Qtel Group provides a full range of telecommunications services in Qatar and across its presence in 17 countries. Our vision is to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world by 2020 through expansion in both the MENA region and South East Asia.

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

© Press Release 2012