MUNICH, Germany-Qatar Telecom has contracted with Siemens AG to supply and install its third-generation W-CDMA network on the Arabian Peninsula. Siemens will provide 3G packet and switch technologies and maintain and operate them for a year. Siemens also will install W-CDMA base stations with High Speed Downlink Packet Access, which offers data rates of up to 14.4 megabits per second. The contract value is about $23.8 million.
The contract underscores Qtel’s plan to provide 3G applications to its subscribers and visitors to Qatar for the Doha Asian Games in December 2006. “As Qtel is the official telecommunications partner for the games, we are serious about our commitment and support towards meeting the world-class technological requirements for the games and ensuring that Qtel also plays a major role in organizing the best Asian games ever,” said Dr. Nasser Marafih, chief executive officer of Qtel.
Qtel has a subscriber base of more than 600,000 customers and is the exclusive telecommunications provider in Qatar. Qtel’s upgrade from a GSM/GPRS mobile network to HSDPA will give more than 120,000 subscribers fast Internet access, live video and audio programming and the ability to transfer high-resolution digital images and interactive games.
“Siemens already has a strong position in the GSM/GPRS segment in the Middle East, and our strategy is to reflect this in the 3G arena, something we are on a good way to achieving. With Qtel’s order, two of four 3G/W-CDMA contracts in this region have thus far been awarded to Siemens/NEC,” said Christoph Caselitz, president of the Mobile Networks division at Siemens.
