Hot on the heels of a worldwide supply framework agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has signed a group-wide deal with another equipment provider, China’s Huawei Technologies. According to a press release, the new framework agreement, which is aimed at supporting Qtel’s long-term development strategy across international markets, requires Huawei to provide mobile radio infrastructure including its ‘Single RAN’ base stations alongside circuit switch and packet switch core and transmission systems, as well as other solutions and services. Under the agreement, standard terms and volume-based discounted pricing for network equipment will be available to Qtel group companies. The framework has an initial term of one year and may be extended at Qtel’s discretion for up to two additional years, matching the basic terms of last week’s Qtel-NSN deal; no further financial details were announced.
Qtel has a strategic vision to be among the world’s top 20 telecommunications companies by 2020. Over the past five years it has expanded its geographical footprint from one to 17 countries within the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, connecting more than 53 million customers.