Nawras to launch fixed line service by end-2009

Nawras Telecom, Oman’s second largest mobile operator by subscribers, has announced it will launch a fixed line service in Oman by the end of 2009. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority awarded Nawras, which is owned by Qatar incumbent Qtel, the country’s second fixed line licence in November 2008. Ross Cormack, CEO of Nawras, said in an interview with Gulf Times that his company will build the latest generation fibre-optic backbone and WiMAX wireless access networks across Oman to deliver broadband internet access, as well as a new international gateway to provide both international voice and internet access. The company has set up over 1,000 base stations since launching mobile services in the country in 2005, and is currently rolling out HSDPA services. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, Nawras had over 1.4 million wireless subscribers at the end of September 2008, representing a market share of 45.6%.