State-controlled incumbent operator Qatar Telecom (Q-Tel) has reported a 17.8% rise in revenues during the first half of 2005, driven by a 63% increase in its mobile customer base year-on-year. Q-Tel group revenues for the six months to 30 June 2005 were QAR1.35 billion (USD371 million), whilst EBITDA rose 3.6% to QAR800 million. The revenue growth was primarily attributed to its wireless business, with mobile services accounting for 91% of revenue growth in the period. Q-Tel’s mobile subsidiary Qatarnet finished June with 600,215 subscribers. The impressive financial performance came as no surprise to Q-Tel shareholders, who were informed earlier this month that they would be receiving a record 36.5% interim dividend on their investment.
Q-Tel was also pleased with growth at its Omani mobile business, Nawras Telecom, a joint venture with Denmark’s TDC and local Omani partners, which launched services in March this year. By the end of June Nawras had 82,653 customers.