Nawras plans to launch LTE; set to boost 3G, WiMAX

Oman’s second national telecoms operator Nawras has announced it has begun work to boost network coverage and capacity, following on from a core network upgrade which enabled the company to serve 30% more customers with high speed mobile broadband. As part of the project, Nawras will significantly increase coverage of its 3G and WiMAX networks and will launch 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology. ‘We will shortly be starting the major work of turbocharging the entire network which will massively extend 3G+ coverage and see the exciting introduction of 4G LTE providing a superfast broadband internet service,’ commented Nawras CEO Ross Cormack, adding: ‘We have already completed successful 4G trials and will be sharing more information on this extensive transformation programme very soon.’ Nawras, which is 55% owned by Qatar Telecom (Qtel), is the Sultanate’s second largest cellco by subscribers behind market leader and sole rival network operator Oman Telecommunications (Omantel). At the end of March 2012 Nawras had a total of 1.96 million wireless customers, corresponding to a 45.3% share of the market, according to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database.