Siemens Networks has been commissioned by the Arabian mobile operator Qatar Telecom (Qtel) to operate its UMTS mobile network in the State of Qatar. This managed services contract includes monitoring, maintaining and optimizing the network.
The managed services market for telecommunications providers is growing rapidly, by over ten percent a year, and constitutes an increasing share of telecommunications equipment business. With well over 100 orders, Siemens is one of the market leaders in this sector and is growing three times faster than the market. The new contract with Qtel extends and expands the service partnership that has already been running since June 2006. Siemens guarantees smooth network operation with transparent and sophisticated performance indicators such as defined periods for fault clearance. The network is monitored via a network operation center. Siemens employees eliminate software disruptions remotely from the center or alert maintenance teams who will then carry out the necessary repairs, if the problem is mechanical.
Mobile telephony is on the increase in Qatar. Utilization of the network is growing accordingly and has been further added to by major events like the 15th Asian Games in December 2006. Qtel had the opportunity at that time to see the benefit of the professional network management provided by Siemens.
Abdul Aziz I. Fakhroo, Senior Manager Wireless Networks at Qtel comments: "With Siemens as managed services partner we meet the challenges facing our network. In the UMTS sector our demands are especially high due to the attractive services for our end customers, such as surfing on the internet via mobile phone and sending video messages. Moreover, thanks to the well-established processes at Siemens, we were able to bring our UMTS network to market particularly fast."
Daniel-Rui Felicio, head of Carrier Services at Siemens Networks: "With our services we improve the availability of the network and ensure optimum quality in the UMTS sector right from day one. It has proved valuable that we have a strong local presence worldwide - as in Qatar - and the necessary know-how to reliably operate the entire network for Qtel."
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Siemens Networks GmbH & Co KG
Siemens Networks* engages in a dialog with its customers to create trendsetting communications solutions that help network operators and service providers achieve their business goals. Siemens Networks contributes its innovative strength, worldwide experience and unsurpassed implementation expertise in all areas of voice and data communications. As an innovation leader, Siemens Networks delivers customer value today and prepares customers for tomorrow with trendsetting solutions. Siemens Networks is a fully-owned subsidiary of Siemens AG and operates in about 100 countries.
* Siemens Networks will merge into a 50-50 joint venture with the Nokia Networks Business Group, creating a telecommunications powerhouse that will be called Nokia Siemens Networks. The new company will be a global communications leader with strong positions in key growth segments of the fixed and mobile network infrastructure and services, featuring a world-class fixed-mobile convergence capability. Nokia Siemens Networks will start operations on April 1st, 2007.
More about Siemens Networks at www.siemens.com/networks
About Qtel
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) is the exclusive telecommunications provider in Qatar. Its principal activities include local and international fixed telephone, mobile, Internet, data and cable television services.
Qtel is committed to growing its presence in the Middle East and internationally. In 2004, Qtel led a consortium and won the public tender for the second mobile licence in Oman, and launched its Nawras subsidiary services in March 2005, capturing more than 500,000 new customers (over 31% of the Omani mobile market) in just over 20 months of operations. In November 2006 signed an agreement to acquire a strategic stake in NavLink, a leading provider of managed data services to businesses in the Middle East, with AT&T Inc. In January 2007, Qtel further extended its international presence through the acquisition of an approximate 25% equity stake in ST Telemedia's Asia Mobile Holdings Pte. Ltd. ("AMH").
During 2006, the Qtel Group achieved revenues of QR 4.42 bn (2005 - QR2.98 bn), an increase of 48.2% over the corresponding period in 2005. In achieving these results, the Group also grew its combined mobile customer base in Qatar and Oman to 1,491,700, which is an increase of 55.3% over the customer base of 2005.
Qtel was the prestige partner of, and official telecommunications provider to, the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006, where it implemented the most advanced technologies in the region., including a wide range of services for local and international telephony, Internet and data services and television and radio broadcasting required to support the Games and transmission to over 3 billion people around the world.
Qtel is a winner of the 2005 Gulf Excellence Award and the 2006 GCC Economic Award. The company is listed on the Doha Securities Market and on other stock exchanges in the GCC.
For more information, visit: www.qtel.com.qa
© Press Release 2007
