Telco upgraded 400 outdoor sites to “4G+” as part of the Supernet project
Mobile operator Ooredoo Qatar added 21 new sites to its nationwide network and upgraded 400 outdoor sites to what it calls “4G+” technology as part of its network enhancement project for the Ooredoo Supernet.
In addition, the Arab telco upgraded 70 indoor sites for “4G,” including some prime locations in malls, business centers, residential towers and hotels. Ooredoo’s ongoing network enhancement program is designed to provide high-speed Internet through 3G, 4G and 4G+ devices.
Among the new sites, Ooredoo installed new 4G+ towers in locations such as Al-Shamal City, Al- Khor, Wakrah, Wukair, Umm Saeed, Sealine and Khor Al-Udai.
In March, Ooredoo began to deploy small cells in popular network hot spots across the country, enabling the company to provide advanced voice and data services to its customers even in crowded indoor and outdoor areas. Ooredoo also has launched “Operation Desert,” which aims to significantly improve coverage in Qatar’s desert locations.
Ooredoo Qatar ended the second quarter with almost 3 million mobile telephony subscribers in the country. The telco generated revenue of 2 billion rials ($549.3 million) in the second quarter, up from 1.79 billion rials in the year-ago period. Ooredoo Qatar’s overall capital expenditures in Qatar reached 237.5 million rials in Q2, up compared to 193.5 million rials in the same period the previous year.
Ooredoo launched LTE services in Qatar in 2013. The telco offers LTE through spectrum in the 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands.
Orange launches global lab in Egypt to test Nokia Networks’ products
In related EMEA news, Egyptian mobile telephony operator Mobinil, part of Orange Group, launched a global lab in Egypt designed to validate Nokia Networks’ new products for all affiliates of Orange worldwide.
The global lab in Cairo includes Nokia’s latest network hardware and software.
“The launch is a testimony to the world-class indigenous talent pool we have here locally that supports the introduction of advanced 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE broadband technologies, not only for our network in Egypt, but also for Orange’s networks across the world,” said Mobinil CTO Yasser Shaker.