Nawras will be looking to boost connectivity around the country this year as the telecommunications company seeks to build on the growing demand for data and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.
Speaking at a press launch to announce a tie-up with Grand Hyatt Muscat to offer the company's Elite Club members discounts at the hotel's restaurants and cafes, Nawras CEO Ross Cormack said that the company will continue to build a number of base stations around Oman to improve broadband connectivity.
He added that the company currently covers 57 per cent of the sultanate with its 3G network, 97 per cent with a voice network which also provides data services and 87 per cent of households with home broadband.
Speaking to reporters, Cormack said that the easing of restrictions on some VoIP services was due to customer demand with usage of its own 0902 prefix VoIP service proving to be very popular - and the company will request extension of the promotion once it runs out at the end of this month.
He said, "That has had a huge impact, we have seen international call numbers just shoot through the roof.
"It is a win-win situation where people are using our network even more extensively, which means we can provide even better services."
Cormack added that in order to capitalise on the growing demand for data services, Nawras will focus on improving connectivity around Oman this year in order to provide higher speeds for customers.
He said, "What we are doing is taking advantage of the best technology to provide ever-upgraded services, but the very first thing is to get connectivity to as many people as we can."
Cormack added that the company will roll out more services for business customers in 2012.
He said, "Most business customers want to have at the very least connectivity which is protected by diversity, meaning a choice of operators where if one does not work then another one does.
"A lot of people are turning to us now and big government owned companies and ministries are doing this as well. SQU is a new customer of ours as well."
Since its launch in 2008, Nawras now has more than 100,000 Elite Club gold and platinum members and more than 1.5mn customers use its Elite services to collect points by making or receiving calls.
© Muscat Daily 2012
