Manama: wi-tribe, a Qtel Group Company, has today announced its alliance with a top WiMAX customer premises equipment (CPE) manufacturer to give its customers a top of the line branded device.
Initially, customers in Pakistan will be able to use the customized CPE to access the wi-tribe network in areas of coverage and plans to launch customized products onto other markets.
This step is in line with wi-tribe's commitment to provide the most convenient and simple internet access to emerging markets. "We promise our customers innovation and fun, and taking this step to design our own CPE to match the standards that they expect, and at a rate which is affordable to everyone, is clear proof of our commitment," stated wi-tribe Group CEO, Sami Hinedi.
The CPE is the device that connects the customer to wi-tribe's internet service. The fully branded CPE, developed under the wi-tribe's brand, will use the latest WiMAX technologies and would allow wi-tribe to produce personalized CPEs at a lower cost which means addressing a wider segment of the market in the communities they serve.
"Although standards are still not finalized, WiMAX is emerging as a competitive option to alternatives such as cable or DSL for delivery of broadband services." explained Hinedi, "To be competitive, the total cost per customer must be comparable to these alternatives. That is why wi-tribe has come together to examine all aspects of the technology for these CPEs and the role of all players in the supply chain for their production."
"The wi-tribe CPE will deploy the latest WiMAX technology chipsets and will use an optimized antenna design to provide better service for our customers", continued Hinedi.
wi-tribe recently launched its second operation in Pakistan, wi-tribe's largest market to date, in four major regions simultaneously and plans to further expand to other areas. wi-tribe also has a thriving operation in Jordan and plans to launch in the Philippines in 2010. The newly launched CPEs will be made available preliminarily to customers in Pakistan later this year.
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About the wi-tribe Group:
wi-tribe is a focused, reliable and ethical consumer wireless internet provider. It aims to create value for internet in emerging markets by simplifying technology and offering services that will enrich the lives of its customers. Backed by unrivalled experience, knowledge and vision, wi-tribe; a Qtel Group Company, was born in April of 2007 and is a proud partner with the A.A. Turki Group of Companies (ATCO) and Clearwire in Jordan and Pakistan, and the San Miguel Corporation in the Philippines.
The vast experience these world leaders bring to the table has fuelled the growth of this new venture, launching wi-tribe globally as part of Qtel's 2020 vision of heading towards being positioned the world's preferred internet leader.
In 2008, wi-tribe launched its first operation in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. wi-tribe's second operation, in its largest market to date, was launched in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in July 2009. wi-tribe is currently preparing to launch its third operation in the Republic of Philippines in 2010.
About The Qtel Group
Based in Qatar, The Qtel Group is a diversified telecommunications group with three business lines including consumer telephony, consumer internet and corporate managed services. It is committed to expansion in line with its strategic vision of becoming a global top 20 telecommunications provider by the year 2020. Over the past three years, Qtel Group has built a successful track record of acquisitions hence expanding its geographic footprint from 2 to 17 countries within the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, connecting more than 57 million customers.
For further information please contact media@wi-tribe.com or Shereen Bushehri, Group Senior Manager, Brand & Corporate Communications on +973 39444885.
© Press Release 2009
