Qtel Group Steps onto World Stage at Mobile World Congress

Company to Announce New Initiatives to Enrich Lives of Customers around the World; Dr. Nasser Marafih to Deliver Keynote Speech on “Connecting the Next Billions to the Internet”

Mobilk - All eyes will be on Qtel Group at the upcoming GSMA Mobile World Congress, as the global communications leader will unveil a series of new initiatives to enrich customers’ lives. 

Qtel Group, one of the world’s fastest-growing communications companies, is aiming to demonstrate its credentials as a forward-looking, community-focused company. Qtel Group continues to expand its reach and deliver innovative and essential services to more than 89 million customers in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia.

The delegation from Qtel Group will be led by Qtel Group Chairman, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani, and will include teams working in some of the most interesting markets in the world, including Qtel in Qatar; Asiacell in Iraq; Indosat in Indonesia; Nawras in Oman; Nedjma in Algeria; Tunisiana in Tunisia; and Wataniya in Kuwait, the Maldives and Palestine.

Covering an area that is home to a young, rapidly-growing population, Qtel Group has been one of the leaders in providing mobile Internet access to people across the developing world. Dr. Nasser Marafih, Group CEO of Qtel Group and Chairman of the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation, will focus on the challenges andthe lessons learned by the Group in his keynote presentation on “Connecting the Next Billions to the Internet.” He will be joined on stage to tackle this challenging area by Gary Kovacs, CEO of Mozilla Corporation; Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) and Joint MD, bharti airtel; and Stephen Elop, President and CEO of Nokia. 

Dr. Nasser Marafih, Group CEO of Qtel Group, said: “Qtel Group believes that our services have the capability to enrich people’s lives. We will be focusing on the incredible social and human impact that communication services can deliver through our participation in Mobile World Congress this year, and outlining our bold plans for new initiatives that will benefit the communities that we serve.”

Across all markets, Qtel Group is deploying leading network technologies and smart investments to enable a better customer experience. The Group has initiated a major network modernisation programme with use of latest 3G technology (U900), and increased emphasis on Wi-Fi, resulting in improved indoor quality and a better mobile broadband data experience.

In Qatar, Qtel continues to install the Qtel Fibre broadband fibre-optic network across the country, and is preparing to commercially launch its 4G LTE mobile broadband network. Nawras and Wataniya in Kuwait have recently launched 4G networks, and Asiacell and Nedjma are preparing their 2G networks to be upgraded to 3G once they receive the government licenses.

Qtel Group companies have also delivered services that promote social change, such as Tunisiana’s mLearning service "Najja7ni", developed in partnership with Silatech to support young people’s economic empowerment and a mHealth service for diabetics in Kuwait, Palestine and Iraq. 

Qtel Group’s mWomen initiatives are especially impactful: Asiacell’s Almas (Diamond) line has been nominated at this year’s GSMA Global Mobile Awards, and Indosat’s Usaha Wanita (Business Women) service targeting women entrepreneurs was launched in December 2012 in partnership with Nokia and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.

The GMSA Mobile World Congress will be the largest communications event in the world this year, with more than 70,000 visitors expected. The event, which takes place in Barcelona from 25-28 February 2013 at new venue Fira Gran Via is focusing on the “New Mobile Horizon.” The Qtel Group Pavilion in Hall 2 of Fira Gran Via has been designed to provide an insight into the full Qtel Group experience. Qtel Group will also be showcasing innovations and life enhancing services at the Operator Village located in the Congress square of Fira Gran Via.