DOHA: The Qatar National Broadband Network(Q.NBN)and Vodafone Qatar have signed an interim wholesale agreement that would initially provide high-speed fibre network broadband services to customers in Barwa City and Barwa Commecial Avenue.
The agreement was signed by Mohamad Al Mannai, Q.NBN CEO and Richard Daly, Vodafone Qatar CEO.
This agreement is the first such wholesale agreement to enable a licensed telecom operator to use Q.NBN's network to deliver telecom services to customers.
The signing represents the latest milestone in the relationship begun last year when Q.NBN and Vodafone inked a Heads of Agreement.
This was to define how the two organizations could work together to realise the Qatar Government's objective to roll out an accessible nationwide high-speed fibre optic network.
Q.NBN is providing a state-of-the-art passive fibre optics platform to enable all licensed operators to offer voice, high-speed Internet access and other data services to their customers.
Bringing the implementation of high-speed broadband one step nearer for households, businesses and government agencies, the agreement also paves the way for a long-term nationwide agreement between Q.NBN and Vodafone.
"This interim wholesale Agreement reflects the commitment and partnership between Q.NBN and Vodafone to accelerate fibre penetration to homes and businesses to energize Qatar's knowledge-based economy, reflecting Qatar's Vision 2030," Al Mannai said.
He added the agreement would enhance the quality of life for people in Qatar giving local businesses the competitive edge they need to make Qatar a truly connected nation in line with Qatar ICT Strategy 2015.
For his part, Daly said the agreement reflects Vodafone's shared commitment to advance Qatari society by working together to make a nationwide fibre network a reality in Qatar.
"We are looking forward to building on this relationship to enable us to serve both business and residential customers with higher quality services," he said.
© The Peninsula 2012
