Ooredoo deploys 500 LTE base stations

Ooredoo, currently Qatar’s sole commercial 4G LTE mobile network operator, has announced that it recently activated its 500th LTE base station in the country, and claimed that 4G coverage now extends ‘nationwide’. Since its launch in April 2013, Ooredoo has expanded its number of LTE sites fivefold, and also says it is implementing ongoing network enhancements to improve indoor and outdoor performance and reduce service interruptions, which will continue throughout 2014. Ooredoo is also working with a number of device operators, including Apple and BlackBerry, to accelerate the pace at which the most popular devices in Qatar can access its 4G data speeds – at up to a theoretical 100Mbps, while on average offering speeds that are three-to-six times faster than Ooredoo’s 3G network. In addition to demand for consumer LTE-based data/voice packages, Ooredoo says it is also seeing strong demand from small businesses looking to use 4G for their mobile requirements.