Qatar’s market leader has launched its LTE network, with 4G services now available via mifi and dongle devices. Ooredoo, formerly known as Qtel, is aiming to expand the service to include smartphones.
The operator has claimed that its 4G network – which uses the 800MHz and 2600MHz bands - offers speeds that are “three-to-six times faster” than its 3G network. The launch results from a year of LTE trials in which customer feedback was gathered to optimise the network.
The service is launching initially in the capital city Doha and the Sealine area, with plans for monthly network expansions via new tower installations. The coverage will eventually extend across all inhabited areas of Qatar – including major highways and other transport infrastructure - with Ooredoo confident that it will hit this target by the end of Q4 2014.
The country’s government has stated its goal of making Qatar one of the best-connected countries in the world. The incumbent operator is claiming the launch as an important element of this plan.
