Telecom Lead Middle East: Mobile operator Qtel has
selected Chinese telecom gear marker ZTE for rolling out GSM, WCDMA and LTE
solutions across Qtel Group operations in the Middle East, North Africa and
Asia. The new technologies will benefit customers across the Group’s companies including Asiacell,
Wataniya Kuwait, Nawras, Tunisiana, Nedjma and Qtel.
The selection of ZTE is part of Qtel Group’s revised
strategy for tackling the changes affecting the communications sector. The
additional investment will enable Qtel to have a long-term and sustainable
pricing model.
ZTE has ambitions for global growth, and a delivery and
pricing model designed to ensure success. The Qtel Group believes it will
derive significant, long-term value from a strategic frame agreement with ZTE.
This agreement will deliver world-class technology priced to reflect the
realities of a new global economy,” said Nasser Marafih, group CEO, Qtel.
ZTE will play a significant role within the communications
company’s dynamic family of tier-one suppliers. These suppliers help build
networks for Qtel Group’s growing global customer base and are fundamental to
the company’s development.
The company is constantly seeking to deliver more choices
and value for its customers. Because of ZTE’s focus on competitive and
bundled pricing, the company is a strong partner for the Qtel Group. Qtel group
will benefit from the partnership through investment in new technologies and
businesses, particularly in emerging markets across the Middle East and South
Asia,” said ZTE CEO Shi Lirong.
Qtel is serving more than 660 million people in the Middle
East, North Africa, the Asian Subcontinent and South-East Asia.
Recently, mobile operator Hi3G Sweden has extended its
agreement with ZTE to build the first LTE TDD/FDD dual-mode network.
For the contract extension, ZTE will deliver the SDR-based infrastructure
equipment to upgrade the operator’s 3G network in Sweden. ZTE has already
delivered and installed the first stage of the network since it was first
announced in March 2011. This was the world’s first commercial network of green
dual-mode LTE base stations.
