Qtel signs USD61m contract with NSN, doubles mobile web speeds

Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has signed a USD61 million agreement with Qatar Telecom (Qtel) to implement a network modernisation project based on the vendor’s ‘future-proof’ infrastructure solutions, according to a press release. NSN is optimising Qtel’s nationwide 2G and 3G/3.5G mobile networks, with one of the aims being to double mobile broadband speeds. The Finnish company is providing Qtel with a circuit-switch core network capacity expansion and a packet core network swap based on the Flexi ISN solution for optimised data traffic. It was reported separately that Qtel is upgrading its HSDPA 3.5G mobile network to offer 7.2Mbps peak downlink speeds, double the current theoretical maximum rate. Existing mobile broadband customers will benefit from the upgrade at no additional cost.