Vodafone unveils mobile broadband packages

Vodafone Qatar has announced the launch of mobile broadband services and a Wi-Fi hotspot device dubbed ‘Vodafone MiFi’, local daily The Gulf Times reports. Post-paid customers can access 2GB of data, valid for 30 days, at a price of QAR100 (USD27.4), while 500MB of data is available for pre-paid subscribers at the same price, valid for 60 days. ‘We are delighted to be launching another great Vodafone service. As with all Vodafone’s services, mobile broadband offers customers simple and easy to understand price plans that are of good value,’ noted Vodafone Qatar’s CEO, Grahame Maher, adding: ‘The 900MHz network we have created is one of the most advanced in the region and is future-ready. The bandwidth on offer comes with 100% coverage of Qatar.’ The company has unveiled a plug-and-play USB dongle, which is available to buy for QAR299, while Vodafone MiFi is available for QAR599 and enables up to five users to connect their laptop and any other Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, Vodafone launched commercial 2G and 3G services at the beginning of July 2009, by which time it already had 15,000 network users. At 31 March 2010 the cellco’s subscriber base had risen to over 464,000, representing a market share of 18%.