Nawras Receives Royal Decree for Fixed License
Nawras Can Now Provide Full Range of Telecommunication Services

12 Jun 2009

Nawras, a member of the Qtel Group, has warmly welcomed Royal Decree 34/2009 granted by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for the issuance of a First Class License for the installation and operation of a common fixed telecommunications services system.

As license holder, Nawras is now entitled to provide fixed, data and international telecommunication services for customers in the Sultanate of Oman, and can use its network infrastructure to offer a range of leading-edge technologies, such as Wi-Max and HSDPA services.

The license provides for the installation and operation of a fixed telecommunications services system for a period of 25 years, with frequency spectrum rights granted for 15 years.

H.E. Sheikh Salim bin Mostahail Al-Mashani, Chairman of the Board, Nawras, said: “The award of the new license is hugely significant for Nawras, providing us with the legal framework to enable our company’s transformation into a full-service, integrated telecommunications provider for Oman. We are committed to offering a full range of services for the people, to meet the developing communication needs of the Sultanate.”

With the issuance of the new fixed line licence, Nawras is now positioned to grow its business outside of its core mobile communications area, and begin to provide the same level of innovative service and high quality support that mobile customers enjoy to a new wave of fixed line customers.

His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman, Qtel said: “This is an historic moment for Nawras and for the wider Qtel Group, as it enables us to begin to offer a full range of services to the people of Oman, and to deliver our commitment to quality for fixed line customers as well as mobile customers. Across our operations, Qtel continues to strive to provide the widest possible portfolio of world-class communication solutions.”

Since its launch in 2005, Nawras has provided a pleasingly different range of new innovations for the GSM market, growing to over 1.6 million customers and achieving a market share of more than 45 percent by the end of the first quarter of 2009.

As part of its strategy for development, the company plans to operate its own international gateway to provide higher quality and capacity for both fixed and mobile customers. Nawras also has clear plans to play its part in meeting the Sultanate’s Broadband vision.

To support the people of Oman, Nawras has established a dedicated Corporate and Business Unit, and has introduced a range of Nawras Business Solutions, alongside its impressive consumer portfolio.

The winning combination of the Qtel Group's global telecommunications expertise together with Nawras’ in-depth understanding of local culture means that the company is able to serve its customers in a pleasingly different way, offering excellent quality. Ongoing growth and development will contribute to Nawras achieving its mission of being the best communications provider and employer of choice in Oman.

Nawras’ extension into fixed line and consumer broadband services complements The Qtel Group’s strategy to grow its operations across dedicated business lines, as part of its objective to become one of the world’s top 20 telecommunications companies by 2020.

Nawras currently covers 96% of the population with its reliable EDGE network and over 40% with its trusted 3G+ network.