02 September 2008
MUSCAT -- Mohammed bin Ali Al Wohaibi, chief executive officer of Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), said the new fixed line tariff launched on September 1 comes within the framework of the company's endeavours to encourage subscribers to interact through fixed phone service, being the cheapest in terms of call rates.
The company grants its subscribers free talk minutes for each of the three new packages. This will contribute to encouraging customers to making their contacts through fixed line service, which is known for its several advantages in addition to the fact that it is less prone to the problems of weak network and climatic conditions etc.
Several advantages
Wohaibi indicated that the company makes its calculations and draws up its plans in such a way to enable all segments of the society to benefits from the new tariff, which offer them several advantages.
Subscribers used to pay the monthly rent without even making any calls from the fixed line. With the new tariff structure, subscribers would pay the monthly rent in return for free call minutes. He noted that Package 1 includes a monthly rent of RO4.900, offering 75 free minutes. Package 2 comes with a rent of RO7.900 per month, offering 300 free minutes while Package 3 has a monthly rent of RO 9.900, bundled with 450 free minutes. These facilities are meant to offer the good incentives to the subscribers and encourage them to interact through a service with several merits.
The CEO of Omantel pointed out that in order for subscribers, who use fixed line within a distance of 30km, not lose money, the company offered them 75 free talk minutes. For example, he said, a subscriber who was making a call from Al Khuwair to Saham at 5pm, used to pay 280 baisas. However, with the new tariff, the rate would amount to 105 baisas only because calls were rated based on distance, while they are billed now in minutes and at affordable prices.
Promotion
Wohaibi said the company would promote present subscribers directly to Package-1. Subscribers wishing to join Package-2 or Package-3 should visit Omantel counters to apply for any of the packages. He pointed out that the number of fixed line subscribers in the Sultanate exceeds 50 per cent of the total number of households amounting to 540,000 houses.
He called upon subscribers to upgrade to the hi-speed ADSL Internet, which saves time and effort, compared with the normal dial-up.
New system
He stressed the fact that the company is moving ahead with its plans to upgrade the Internet network in the Sultanate to support the infrastructure of telecom sector and keep pace with the economic boom coupled with the establishment of giant tourist, investment and industrial projects.
He pointed out that the company is currently making the necessary improvements in all exchanges so that they can use the next generation network, which provides several advantages including the hi-speed ADSL Internet. This in turn would expand the number of subscribers during the next stage.
He indicated that the company bears around RO100-200,000 to connect the service to one rural village to help inhabitants enjoy telecom services. However, to its surprise, the company discovers that there is only one subscriber in such a village.
This, without doubt, is not economical to the company in such a commercial environment. Furthermore, the company found that there has been little demand for the service in some villages, and therefore, it is not possible to provide the service to one household.
Accordingly, the company conducts feasibility studies, and in case it finds it difficult to connect the service commercially, it refers the applications to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to study the matter and try to provide the service as part of what is called the comprehensive service.
Regarding the fact that the fixed line network sometimes causes some pressure during certain periods, Wohaibi said the fixed line service works on a local national network and it is not linked to the international network. Therefore, the pressure that occurs during certain periods is caused by the other network in the receiving country abroad. "We are currently coordinating with other countries to increase capacities in their telephone exchanges to absorb telecom traffic, especially as we expect more contacts after the application of the new fixed line tariff and the reduced international call rates," he concluded.
MUSCAT -- Mohammed bin Ali Al Wohaibi, chief executive officer of Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel), said the new fixed line tariff launched on September 1 comes within the framework of the company's endeavours to encourage subscribers to interact through fixed phone service, being the cheapest in terms of call rates.
The company grants its subscribers free talk minutes for each of the three new packages. This will contribute to encouraging customers to making their contacts through fixed line service, which is known for its several advantages in addition to the fact that it is less prone to the problems of weak network and climatic conditions etc.
Several advantages
Wohaibi indicated that the company makes its calculations and draws up its plans in such a way to enable all segments of the society to benefits from the new tariff, which offer them several advantages.
Subscribers used to pay the monthly rent without even making any calls from the fixed line. With the new tariff structure, subscribers would pay the monthly rent in return for free call minutes. He noted that Package 1 includes a monthly rent of RO4.900, offering 75 free minutes. Package 2 comes with a rent of RO7.900 per month, offering 300 free minutes while Package 3 has a monthly rent of RO 9.900, bundled with 450 free minutes. These facilities are meant to offer the good incentives to the subscribers and encourage them to interact through a service with several merits.
The CEO of Omantel pointed out that in order for subscribers, who use fixed line within a distance of 30km, not lose money, the company offered them 75 free talk minutes. For example, he said, a subscriber who was making a call from Al Khuwair to Saham at 5pm, used to pay 280 baisas. However, with the new tariff, the rate would amount to 105 baisas only because calls were rated based on distance, while they are billed now in minutes and at affordable prices.
Promotion
Wohaibi said the company would promote present subscribers directly to Package-1. Subscribers wishing to join Package-2 or Package-3 should visit Omantel counters to apply for any of the packages. He pointed out that the number of fixed line subscribers in the Sultanate exceeds 50 per cent of the total number of households amounting to 540,000 houses.
He called upon subscribers to upgrade to the hi-speed ADSL Internet, which saves time and effort, compared with the normal dial-up.
New system
He stressed the fact that the company is moving ahead with its plans to upgrade the Internet network in the Sultanate to support the infrastructure of telecom sector and keep pace with the economic boom coupled with the establishment of giant tourist, investment and industrial projects.
He pointed out that the company is currently making the necessary improvements in all exchanges so that they can use the next generation network, which provides several advantages including the hi-speed ADSL Internet. This in turn would expand the number of subscribers during the next stage.
He indicated that the company bears around RO100-200,000 to connect the service to one rural village to help inhabitants enjoy telecom services. However, to its surprise, the company discovers that there is only one subscriber in such a village.
This, without doubt, is not economical to the company in such a commercial environment. Furthermore, the company found that there has been little demand for the service in some villages, and therefore, it is not possible to provide the service to one household.
Accordingly, the company conducts feasibility studies, and in case it finds it difficult to connect the service commercially, it refers the applications to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to study the matter and try to provide the service as part of what is called the comprehensive service.
Regarding the fact that the fixed line network sometimes causes some pressure during certain periods, Wohaibi said the fixed line service works on a local national network and it is not linked to the international network. Therefore, the pressure that occurs during certain periods is caused by the other network in the receiving country abroad. "We are currently coordinating with other countries to increase capacities in their telephone exchanges to absorb telecom traffic, especially as we expect more contacts after the application of the new fixed line tariff and the reduced international call rates," he concluded.
© Times of Oman 2008
