Qtel and Qatarnet GSM mull interactive TV launch

Qtel is considering plans to launch video-on-demand services for subscribers to its Qatar Cable Vision (QCV) service as it looks to stave off the threat from direct-to-home satellite TV providers. Moreover, the telco says it could launch a similar service over the 3G network of its mobile arm Qatarnet when the service commences commercial operations at the end of the year. Qtel has set aside QAR800 million over the next three years to upgrade the GSM network. At the end of 2004 the cellco claimed 520,000 subscribers, while Qtel reported 10,500 barQ ADSL users, up from 2,800 at the end of 2003.