With this year's African Cup of Nations one of the most exciting in the event's history, Qtel is reporting a surge in demand for its Al Jazeera Plus package on Mozaic TV+, which includes two channels showing round-the-clock coverage of this exciting event.

The two new channels - Al Jazeera Sports +9 and Al Jazeera Sports +10 - have covered the cup in its entirety, and viewers have been rewarded with a feast of football in 2010.

With last night's match seeing Egypt triumph over Cameroon in a frantic 3-1 victory, viewers will now have the chance to see Egypt play Algeria in the semi-finals on Thursday. Two other long-term African rivals, Ghana and Nigeria, are set to play in the other semi-final.

Demand and requests for information about the new channels have been high since their launch at the start of the month. However, demand peaked with the progress of locally-popular teams into the final stages of the Cup, with Qtel's call centre recording thousands of calls since Monday.

Customers of Qtel's Mozaic TV+ and Cablevision services can follow the final stages of the competition with the Al Jazeera Plus channel package for just QR35 every month. Existing customers have been automatically upgraded to the service, while new customers can call 111 to be connected.

Qtel is one of Qatar's biggest supporters of football, fuelling the sense of excitement that fans feel in the build-up to the biggest matches. The launch of the new channels included in Al Jazeera Plus package, is designed following requests from fans of African football across Qatar, has been a smash-hit for the company and its customers.

Qtel’s newly-launched Nojoom rewards programme – which provides points for each Qatari Riyal spent on Qtel services and enables customers to spend these points on a wide range of gifts and experiences, with absolutely no additional charges for registration or redemption – is expected to quickly attract a large membership based on the strength of its growing number of rewards partners, say Qtel executives.

Already, some of Qatar’s biggest commercial names have signed on to the Nojoom programme, including Virgin Megastore, Grand Cinecenter, Qatar Airways, and Giant Stores. Qtel will also accept Nojoom points in exchange for service credits.

“Nojoom is about communicating to our customers that they are always at the centre of our growth as a company and that we value them greatly,” said Adel Al-Mutawa, Qtel’s Executive Director of Group Communications.

“By selecting top tier redemption partners for the Nojoom programme, we further underscore our seriousness about bringing high quality experiences to our customers as a means of thanking them.  Accordingly, we expect significant Nojoom enrolment over the next few months,” added Al-Mutawa.

Each and every time customers use Qtel services – whether making phone calls, sending SMS, watching Mozaic TV+ or surfing the Internet – they can receive Nojoom points. As customers earn more Nojoom Points, they move from the entry level of ‘Nojoom Blue’ through to ‘Nojoom Silver’ and then to ‘Nojoom Gold’ Status.  The programme has been developed so that the higher the membership status a customer has, the more privileges they are entitled to.

For those enrolling in Nojoom before 31 August, membership can be automatically be upgraded to Silver or Gold membership status based on the individual’s usage of Qtel services over the last 12 months.

Additionally, for those registering online, an automatic award of 500 points will be granted absolutely free.

“Like Qtel, Giant Stores has a passion for customer service and a longstanding commitment to the people of Qatar. By actively participating as one of Nojoom’s selected partners, we are furthering our reputation as a destination shopping place for families,” said Maher A. Halabi, General Manager of Giant Stores.

Nojoom members will be able to redeem points at the Nojoom website at www.qtel.com.qa and gift Nojoom rewards to friends and family members.

Customers can redeem their points, starting from as little as 200 Nojoom Points, at the dedicated Nojoom area at www.qtel.com.qa. The site keeps users updated with the latest exciting offers and helps Nojoom members keep track of their total points.

For more information about Nojoom, you can visit Qtel’s stands in Villagio, Landmark, Hyatt Plaza, Royal Plaza and City Centre Malls, call 111 or visit www.qtel.com.qa.

Photo caption: Registration for Qtel’s new Nojoom Loyalty Program was one of the big attractions at Malls over the weekend.

Qtel announced today that it will sponsor the Qatar Arabian World Cup 2009, set to take place at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, this October.

The Qatar Arabian World Cup will take place on the final day of Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, the world’s richest and most influential meeting in international horseracing.

With prize money of 450,000 Euros (QR 2,160,000), the Qatar Arabian World Cup is considered the World Championship for purebred Arabian horses.

Qatar has been the Main Sponsor of the event since 2008, following the direction of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Special Adviser to the Amir, and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club signed a 5 year agreement to sponsor the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

“We are delighted that Qtel has agreed to sponsor the Qatar Arabian World Cup, adding to Qatar’s strong support for this important and prestigious international racing event. The Qatar Arabian World Cup is one of the highlights of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, and probably the single most prominent showcase for purebred Arabian racehorses in international racing,” said Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faleh Al Thani, General Supervisor of the Racing and Equestrian Club.

Last year, 18 of the world’s most prominent pureblood Arabian racehorses took part in Qatar Arabian World Cup, with participants from Qatar, the UAE, the United Kingdom and France.

Over a billion people worldwide followed the races on television, with coverage in over 200 countries.

“As a company which has the ambitious goal of becoming one of the top 20 in the world by 2020, our association with a race of this importance, in the heart of Europe, will help take the Qtel brand to a whole new audience, and demonstrate our commitment to supporting sport locally, regionally and internationally,” said Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, Executive Director, General Services and Group Human Resources, Qtel.

“At the same time, we believe that by supporting a race for purebred Arabian racehorses – which have such important cultural resonance for the local community – we are demonstrating our status as a proud Qatari company to the world,” he added.

The Qatar Arabian World Cup is the first race for purebred Arabians to be run on Longchamp racecourse on the same day as the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The inaugural edition of the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe was held at Longchamp racecourse on 3 Sunday October 1920, and was named in honor of the troops who had marched triumphantly beneath the Arc de Triomphe on 14th July 1919, following the end of the First World War.

Traditionally, it is run over the classic distance of 2,400m on the first Sunday in October every year, bringing together the best male and female thoroughbreds aged three and over in the world.

This year, to help promote Qatar to an international audience, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club will re-create Qatar’s famous Souq Waqif at the entrance to the Longchamp Racecourse, to introduce Qatari customs to the international racing world.
 

Qtel continued its run of industry accolades this week, winning “Outstanding Leader of the Year” and “Telecom Deal of the Year Middle East” at the TMT Finance and Investment Middle East Awards, held in Doha, Qatar. Both awards saw Qtel succeed against a shortlist of leading companies that included a number of the most significant names in regional and international telecommunications.

The “Outstanding Leader of the Year” award was awarded to Dr. Nasser Marafih, CEO of Qtel, in recognition of the remarkable transformation he has led that has seen the Qatari company grow from a single-country operation in 2005 into an integrated service provider with a presence in 17 countries today.
In particular, the judge’s report noted The Qtel Group’s success in continuing to drive the development of its home market – where Qtel now has 1.9 million consolidated customers – at the same time as enhancing its position in markets as diverse as Kuwait, Oman, Indonesia, Algeria and Iraq.

Since becoming CEO in 2002, Dr. Nasser has led the company from strength to strength, successfully guiding Qtel through its transformation program both domestically and globally. Throughout his distinguished career, he has played a key role in the growth of the telecommunications sector, helping to launch the first GSM service in the Middle East in 1994, working on the introduction of Internet to Qatar in 1996 and the privatization of Qtel in 1998.

Qtel was also the recipient of the Telecom Deal of the Year Middle East for its successful acquisition of 40.8% interest in Indosat from Asia Mobile Holding for $1.8bn in June 2008. With its subsequent Tender Offer now successfully complete, Qtel holds a 65 percent stake in the company.
Indonesia’s mobile phone market offers major potential for development, with penetration rates of approximately 48% of a population of 230 million people. Qtel is therefore in a position – through long-term investment and careful strategic management – to deliver significant benefits to Indosat shareholders and to the entire communications market in Indonesia.

“These awards both reflect that ongoing progress that Qtel is making, both at home here in Qatar and internationally,” said Dr. Nasser Marafih, CEO of Qtel. “We continue to enhance our service offering and prudently expand our global operations, in order that we can continue to deliver real value for our customers, shareholders and the people of Qatar. We are delighted that our efforts are being so widely recognized by our peers in the industry.”

The Indosat acquisition has received a string of industry awards in recent months, including the CommsMEA and Telecom Finance Awards for Best Deal Middle East.
In addition, Dr. Nasser received the “Outstanding Leadership” award at the 2nd annual Telecoms World Awards Middle East held in Dubai in November 2008.
The TMT Finance and Investment Middle East Awards 2009 were held at Sharq Village Hotel Doha. The event finished on March 19, 2009 (www.tmtfinance.com).

The Doha Maritime Coast Station was today officially opened at a ceremony that welcomed dignitaries and senior representatives of the maritime industries.

With shipping one of Qatar’s most essential industries – supporting the delivery of everything from liquid natural gas exports through to food imports – the Coast Station will play a vital role in ensuring the safety and smooth passage of ships in the waters surrounding Qatar.

Supported by Qtel, The Doha Maritime Coast Station will be a vital link in the Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS), an international set of safety procedures and communication processes, supported across a range of frequencies. Using world-class communication technology, it will provide essential updates, ranging from weather reports through to emergency alerts.

The Station will be open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, to ensure that there is always support for ships at sea.

Officially opening the facility, Ahmed Yousef Al-Derbesti, Executive Director, International Services, Qtel, said: “The Doha Maritime Coast Station will provide a vital facility for ships in Qatar’s waters, making a material contribution to Qatar’s positioning as a key international hub. We are very proud that some of the world’s most advanced technology, as well as some of the most experienced human resources in the operational and engineering fields, will be provided by Qtel at the Doha Maritime Coast Station.”

The Doha Maritime Coast Station will provide a range of frequencies for area coverage, with short range radio services covering the waters immediately around Qatar, and more advanced services, including High Frequencies, Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and radio telex, used for communication further out into the Ocean.

A team of engineers and operational experts are now permanently based at the Station, which is situated on the coast in Lusail.
In the event of a distress signal or urgent messages received from a maritime mobile station or vessel, the Station’s role is to alert all ships and coast stations in the region immediately, so that help can be dispatched in time to save the person or the vessel in distress.

Weather forecasts received from the meteorological office in Doha are transmitted twice daily to keep ships and local fishermen informed of gales and other potentially-dangerous weather conditions.

The station is managed in accordance with the provisions and regulations of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and International Maritime Organization.

As Qatar prepares for a range of celebrations for Qatar National Day on 18 December, leading telecommunications company Qtel has rolled-out one of the most innovative brand campaigns in its history to engage the whole community in the event. Using modern media methods to illustrate Qatar’s rich history and bright future, the integrated campaign looks to celebrate Qatar’s heritage as well as encourage a sense of patriotism and pride for people of all ages.

Adel Al Mutawa, Executive Director of Group Communications, Qtel, said: “We took the decision to develop this very distinctive, first-of-its-kind brand campaign in Qatar to celebrate National Day, because we saw an opportunity to deploy our considerable communications capabilities in support of a national goal. Qtel wanted to use its resources to bring the whole community together at this important time. We hope people will enjoy this campaign as much as we enjoyed developing it for the public.”

Qatar has had much to celebrate in 2008 – including its ongoing social and economic progress, increasing profile in the global sporting arena, and the opening of its iconic Museum of Islamic Art. Qtel’s National Day campaign will use a mix of above-the-line, digital and below-the-line channels to reach the widest possible demographic to commemorate these achievements and mark the history of the Qatari nation.

 One core aspect of the campaign is the distribution of national flag stickers at sites across the country. The campaign organizers hope that the flags – which are available in a range of sizes – will be displayed across Qatar in time for the celebration. Qtel is using its distribution network, including its range of Qtel Shops, to make the flags available free-of-charge to everyone in Qatar.  In addition, at the heart of Qtel’s campaign is a specially-commissioned television commercial.

 Shot on location in Doha and the surrounding area with Qatari talents, the commercial is one of the most ambitious productions undertaken by Qtel in 2008. The TVC depicts Qatari actors in a range of roles, from pearl fishers through to business executives, designed to show the individuals who best personify Qatar’s journey to being one of the world’s fastest-developing nations in the world today. It also features a number of Qatar’s historic monuments and sites of interest.

The television commercial is being supported by an ongoing radio advertisement and an integrated campaign across Qatar’s diverse range of newspapers and online media. Qtel has also sponsored 18,000 special commemorative bags to be distributed across Qatar, containing a range of gifts and souvenirs for visitors and residents, on the occasion of National Day.   

With tennis fans from around the world arriving in Qatar for the Sony Ericsson Championships Doha 2008, Qtel today announced that it is set to provide full support as a new sponsor. 

Qtel has signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the organisers of the prestigious season-ending women’s tennis event. Building on its experience as a major supporter of sport in Qatar, Qtel will provide a broad range of services designed to enhance people’s enjoyment of the Sony Ericsson Championships.  

Karim Alami, Tournament Director, said: “We are very pleased to have the support of Qtel for the Sony Ericsson Championships Doha 2008, and we are confident that this year’s event will be a great success.”  

Throughout the Championship, which runs from November 4-9, Qtel will offer free SMS updates on results from the singles and doubles competitions, in addition to a rolling news-stream.  

Adel Al Mutawa, Executive Director of Group Communications, Qtel, said: “Qtel always looks to provide the highest level of support to every sporting event we engage with, and we are very pleased to be involved with the Sony Ericsson Championships. We see this as a long-term opportunity to bring the excitement and energy of the event to the widest possible audience within Qatar.”  

Sony Ericsson’s innovative Mobile Event Guide, which provides tournament schedules and results, video clips and pictures from matches direct to mobile phones, will be available for free on the popular Mozaic Mobile portal, providing an interactive update for people across Qatar.  

Updates from the service, including player information and analysis, will also be provided for free.  

As part of its sponsorship for the event, Qtel is providing the telecommunication infrastructure at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex to ensure media companies from around the world can seamlessly report on the Sony Ericsson Championships.  

Qtel will also be hosting a number of its business and organizational clients in the VIP Village, as well as providing a number of courtside seats.  

The Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha 2008 will see the world’s top eight women singles and top four women’s doubles teams compete for the title and a share of the record prize money of US$4.45 million.  

The field is now complete with eight singles players and four doubles players. Participating players including Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva, Venus Williams and Vera Zvonareva for the singles; and Cara Black/Liezel Huber; Anabel Medina Garrigues/Virginia Ruano Pascual; Kveta Peschke/Rennae Stubbs and Ai Sugiyama/Katerina Srebotnik for the doubles. 

Qtel figures demonstrate the importance of communication and connectivity during the Holy Month of Ramadan, as people made a record number of video and voice calls this year.

Qtel has helped enable this communication with a special campaign that reduced the cost of video and voice calls by 50 percent during the evening.

The campaign was deliberately designed to ensure that people from all backgrounds could communicate with their friends and family during the Holy Month, and share best wishes with them.

The timing of the reduced tariff period – 9pm and 6am every day – was set following a consultation period with customers across Qatar, the majority of whom indicated that the evening was the most likely time when they would elect to make calls.

In 2008, video calling has proven particularly popular compared to Ramadan 2007. Executives at Qtel believe that the “emotional” nature of video calling is increasing its popularity during festivals and holiday seasons. 

Qtel’s special call reduction was also supported by a significant awareness campaign, which took the message of communication and dialogue across a range of media, including a major television campaign. Qtel’s television advertisement, which emphasized the importance of sharing during the Holy Month, has received positive reviews from a range of specialist marketing media.

Adel Al Mutawa, Executive Director of Group Communications, Qtel, said: “Every business unit and every part of the company has looked to make a contribution to the community during Ramadan, both through the provision of special services and direct local engagement. The call promotion in particular has been warmly received by the public.”

Qtel maximized its social contribution throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan, organizing and participating in a wide range of charity and community activities. 

About Qtel
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) is the telecommunications service provider licensed by the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) to provide both fixed and mobile telecommunications services in the state of Qatar. We have a presence in 16 countries and we are committed to expansion both in the MENA region and South East Asia. Our vision is to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world by 2020.