New mobile licensee to invest USD1.7 billion in Oman by 2014

Nawras Telecom, the consortium formed by state-controlled Qatar Telecom (Qtel), TDC of Denmark and Omani partners that recently won the sultanate’s second mobile licence, says it plans to invest USD1.7 billion in the new network over the next ten years, USD195 million of which will be spent by 2006. Nawras hopes to introduce a commercial service by the end of this year, or early in 2005, by which time its infrastructure will cover 60% of the country; it aims to provide nationwide coverage at launch through national roaming agreements with Omantel. The newcomer must pay the Omani government a one-off fee of USD104 million for the licence and hopes to establish a footing for itself by focusing on the delivery of value added services rather than by entering into a price war with its established rival.