Nawras announces official launch: Telecommunication landscape in Oman transformed forever

Nawras, Oman’s new mobile communications operator, launched today with a promise to the people of Oman to provide an excellent customer experience underpinned by caring support wherever people are, easy-to-use services, technology to serve customers better and great value.

Comment by the Board
At a press conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Muscat, attended by the board and senior management, Sheikh Saif bin Hashil Al-Maskery, Chairman of Nawras, thanked the wise leadership and vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and his government for awarding the second mobile licence to Nawras. He stated, “Our research indicates that too few people in Oman are enjoying the benefits of mobile communications. Nawras objective is to contribute to an Oman where mobile communications is for the many rather than for the few.” He continued, “On behalf of Nawras, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority as well as other government authorities for making this possible. Nawras looks forward to serving the people of Oman”.

Sheikh Saif added, “The Nawras brand is built on a vision to enrich the lives of people in Oman through better communication. Our mission is to become the communications provider and employer of choice in Oman. The Nawras brand is about people rather than technology.” He continued “The feathers in the Nawras logo symbolise a brand which is warm, caring, friendly and colourful. Nawras communications use everyday language and highlight customer benefits by showing how technology can serve customers better. Nawras represents a pleasingly different world where people are not tied by the location of their phones but instead able to communicate and interact without boundaries.”

Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani, Head of the Qatar Emiri Diwan and chairman of Qatar Telecom (Qtel) said “I am pleased that we where able to set up the network in such a short time. This is a clear identification of Qtel’s financial and technical capabilities and its professional employees. He added, “It is a great moment that the launch of Nawras coincides with the visit to Oman of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani the Emir of the State of Qatar to Oman.” He concluded “we are committed to provide to the people of Oman the latest services with attractive prices. We also intend to support Omani community in all of its activities.”

Dr Nasser Marafih, Qtel CEO and member of the Nawras Board of Directors, said Qtel has played the leading role in establishing Nawras. “As well as our financial investment, Qtel was the lead consortium partner in applying for the Omani mobile license and has been heavily involved in setting up the new mobile network,” Dr Marafih said. “Qtel also brought TDC into the joint venture to lend international support. “Qtel’s highly qualified and experienced people have provided technical, financial and legal expertise to the venture. We have also given valuable IT support, with Nawras adopting elements of Qtel’s new billing system and financial services platforms.

“We are proud to see that our hard work has come to fruition with the launch of Nawras. Our success in being awarded Oman’s second mobile license is a significant international endorsement of Qtel’s strengths and capabilities. “Our investment in Nawras is important to Qtel. It is critical to our company’s growth strategy as we continue to seek new investment opportunities in the Region.

“With Qtel’s ongoing support, the Nawras model of innovation and new technology will set new standards for mobile phone services in the Omani market,” Dr Marafih concluded.

Mr. Henning Vest, member of the board and President TDC Mobile International A/S remarked on the occasion “We have been successful with building up companies internationally and view Nawras as one of the most promising businesses that we have ever participated in. It is important for me to stress the very good relations that we have developed through this joint project with our local Omani partners.” He went on to add, “It is always a challenge to develop a green field operation within a relatively short period – therefore the co-operation between Qtel and TDC has been ideal. Qtel has the investment capacity and substantial local knowledge. TDC has the management expertise combined with strong international experience. We know how to develop, operate and internationalise businesses successfully within the telecommunications industry.” Mr. Vest concluded “We are confident that Nawras will be a successful business. Therefore, TDC’s commitment to and involvement in this project is for the long term.”

Comment by Management
Ross Cormack, Chief Executive Officer of Nawras, said: “This is the dawn of an exciting new era. Nawras has redefined mobile communications in Oman to improve significantly the customer experience at every point of customer contact with Nawras. This includes the choice of which product or service to buy, how and where to buy service from the many Nawras outlets, getting started with the Nawras easy to use mobile service, getting help and support from Nawras and paying for the service. Nawras has revolutionised the whole customer experience.”

Mr. Cormack continued, “We have carried out extensive market research into what existing and potential customers like and dislike about the currently available services. At Nawras, we will take the customer under our wings and create an environment in which communication is hassle-free, intuitive and meaningful”.

Nawras is bringing exciting new services to the market
Nawras market research showed that customers wanted new exciting mobile offers and value for money. Nawras has created different packages for heavy, medium and light use as well as introducing new service plans with reduced prices. Nawras has also taken the distance out of postpaid pricing. An important aspect of the offering is that Nawras has bundled a whole great range of services free of monthly subscriptions for both postpaid and prepaid customers. Nawras believes that how a customer chooses to pay should not restrict the services that they can enjoy. Nawras has also created a new product, a prepaid service that looks as if it is a postpaid service, as well as introducing roaming for prepaid as well as postpaid services.

Mr. Cormack revealed the three Nawras offers at the press conference. Nawras Ajel, Nawras Mousbak and Nawras MousbakPlus. Nawras Ajel is the Postpaid service which offers the most competitive voice and SMS prices in the Sultanate, with prices starting at just 19 baisa per minute and including transparent and itemised billing. Nawras Mousbak is a prepaid service with prices starting at 45 baisa per minute, with the benefit of cost control, offered with a range of services without monthly charge including caller identification, picture messaging and voicemail, as well as the ability to use the service abroad with callback roaming. Nawras MousbakPlus, is a prepaid plus service where customers can benefit from rates as low as 39 baisa per minute, with the same benefits as Mousbak. Nawras MousbakPlus is a new type of prepaid offer, with great value for those prepaid customers who use their phones more than average. A monthly fee is automatically collected from the customer credit and in this way the customers can benefit from a prepaid service with much lower pricing.

You can already get Nawras service at 450 points of sale
Nawras market research showed that customers wanted interesting stores and more places to buy mobile services. Nawras has designed its exciting new range of own stores to be destinations of choice not necessity. Nawras stores are not just places you go when you need to pay a bill or need help with service – although customers are welcome to do both. With a full range of phones on sale as well as mobile services the Nawras stores are fun, friendly and bright. Customers will enjoy regular visits to try out the latest mobile phones and learn how to get the best from their mobile service whenever they go shopping. Nawras has also introduced a brand new concept of distribution with premium partners, standard dealers and retail partners making Nawras services available at more than 450 points of sale in Oman. Nawras has simplified the purchase process. Customers can register their postpaid online at our stores or premium partners or just pick up and pay for our prepaid from one of our standard dealers or retail partners and register over the phone later.

It is easy to get started and use Nawras service
Nawras market research showed that customers wanted easy to use and varied services. Nawras postpaid customers will automatically be activated just a few hours after leaving the store. Nawras prepaid service is already pre-activated and customers’ first calls go automatically to one of the Nawras customer champions who will register them and then the customers can use their phone. For data services which can be complex to set up, Nawras has come up with an automatic service where the phone settings are sent to the phone after the customer inserts the SIM. The customer just accepts the settings received by SMS over the air and away they go.

You can pay at more than 300 locations
Nawras market research showed that customers wanted ease of payment. Nawras has found easier ways for customers to pay for both postpaid and prepaid customers. For postpaid customers Nawras sends an SMS to inform them when the bill has been sent and how much needs to be paid. The customer can then pay at one of the 9 Nawras stores or at any of Bank Muscat’s or Oman Arab Bank’s 130 payment outlets, 155 ATMs and 10 cash machines or via internet and phone banking. For prepaid customers Nawras offers lower priced recharge cards at thousands of stores throughout Oman.

How do we help you?
Nawras market research showed that customers wanted effective customer service. Nawras customers can simply go into one of our 9 stores located around Oman or call the Nawras Customer Champions on 1500 which is a free call from a Nawras phone. Alternatively customers can access 24/7 self-care through My Nawras internet address to serve yourself whenever you want.

We provide top quality service
Nawras market research showed that customers wanted high network quality and billing accuracy. Nawras will provide Oman with a state-of-the-art EDGE network offering superior voice quality and fast data access. Nawras coverage already extends to over 60% of the population of Oman and within a few months we will cover 95% of the population. Nawras also has a state of the art new billing system to offer trustworthy billing for all customers.

In conclusion
Mr. Cormack concluded by reiterating that “Today’s launch truly marks a new era in mobile communications for Oman. Our guiding philosophy revolves around four main principles: caring support wherever you are, easy-to-use services, technology to serve you better and great value. The Nawras brand is based around people, around caring for customers, being innovative in everything we do and excelling by doing it better than anyone else. More than anything else, we see the world through the eyes of our customers and aim to make their lives better. We will take our customers under our wings and promise to provide an excellent customer experience to the people of Oman. Welcome to the world of Nawras. We are looking forward to serving you soon.”

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