Nawras CEO attends world telecommunications congress in Amsterdam

Nawras, the Sultanate’s customer friendly communications provider, recently joined a representation of the world’s largest networks and content providers, for the Total Telecom World Telecommunications Congress in Amsterdam. Nawras CEO Ross Cormack debated global convergence and transformation strategies with industry peers in this leadership forum, described as an event which opened a window into the telecoms business of tomorrow.

The opening address was given by Arjang Zadeh, Managing Partner, Global Network Service Line, Communications & High Tech Industry, Accenture, who outlined issues of ‘Delivering growth through planned transformation’. Rinaldi Firmansyah, CEO, PT Telkom, delivered a Keynote speech on ‘Maximising growth through strategic investment’

Arjang Zadeh went on to chair a special session with a high profile panel including Ross Cormack, Sir Julian Horn-Smith, until recently Deputy CEO of Vodaphone, now with Altimo, Miroslav Majoros, CEO Slovak Telecom and Amin Damji, Director International Services, Roshan. Ross Cormack’s presentation on ‘Evaluating the opportunities in new markets’, explained that Nawras has exceeded the expectations of mobile penetration in Oman, linking this to growth in the Omani economy. Cormack outlined the role of new technologies such as the wireless Nawras Internet based on EDGE which has provided an attractive and immediately available alternative for internet access for business customers and consumers, enhancing the overall internet access penetration in the Sultanate. He spoke of the rapid development in telecommunication which was noted to have supported the growth of other sectors including tourism, trade and manufacturing, in line with the government’s aim to diversify, leading to increased employment opportunities both directly and indirectly.

Discussing the next topic ‘Uptake of new services and products’, Cormack outlined the phenomenal success and growth of Nawras Mobile Email and Nawras Internet, in the Omani market. Nawras is the only operator to offer mobile data services and this month cut prices dramatically in a move that saw up to 80% price reduction for Nawras Mousbak data users, further increasing the attractiveness of Nawras Internet and Nawras Mobile Email, for customers to read messages, browse the internet and check contact details, anywhere within the extensive Nawras network coverage.

Cormack noted that customers simply need a Nawras Ajel account with a laptop for Nawras Internet, or a mobile phone or PDA from i-Mate, BlackBerry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola etc., for Nawras Mobile Email. Settings necessary to use the service are usually received automatically when customers join Nawras, however if this is not the case, customers can send a free SMS with the keyword ‘All’ to the number 1501 and simply save the settings received to get started.

Nawras Mobile Email coupled with Data Roaming means freedom and efficiency. In addition to voice calls and SMS, the service allows customers to transfer data, and enjoy easy access to corporate emails as well as to Hotmail, Yahoo, Omantel and other POP3 accounts. This means staying completely up-to-date when away from home or the office, in 23 different countries and has proved particularly popular with business users who travel abroad but at the same time need to maintain their usual communication links with colleagues in the Sultanate.

Cormack also discussed the growth in SMS and MMS, and how the recent 2nd anniversary MMS promotion helped to bring this service to a new audience, pushing growth rapidly upwards. As a follow-up, Nawras is currently providing a new MMS offer to encourage yet more customers to try this service, by giving free MMS all day, after the first two chargeable messages have been sent.

In summary, Ross Cormack remarked on the dramatic way Nawras transformed the telecommunications landscape in Oman by changing what people buy, where they buy, how they pay and how they get help. With a world-class network, more than 600,000 customers and a 34% market share, Nawras continues to be the fastest growing family in Oman by delivering on the promise to give customers great value, pleasingly different service and excellent quality.

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