Huawei Helps Qtel to Achieve Qatar's 100% FTTH coverage

Huawei, a global leading ICT solutions provider, recently announced that it would extend its contract with Qtel to implement the phase II project of the carrier's national rollout of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) ultra broadband network infrastructure. Using Huawei's SingleFan solution, this network will cover all the territory of the country and provide network access to the entire population at a downstream speed of up to 100Mbps. This network will also provide quality products and services to more users, including voice communications, high-speed Internet, and IPTV.

As a multinational integrated carrier, Qtel provides services for over 660 million subscribers in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. As the main provider of convergent communications services in Qatar, Qtel is committed to providing fixed network products and services to households and businesses to promote the sustainable development of the country's information industry. To attain the strategic objectives of bringing Qatar's broadband coverage closer to 100% of households and businesses within two years, providing an Internet speed of up to 100Mbps to households, and offering better user experience in online education and entertainment, Qtel aims to consolidate its competitive edge and industry leadership by expanding the coverage of its fiber network from its phase I scale to national coverage.

Since its cooperation with Qtel in its phase I FTTH project in 2010, Huawei has deeply impressed Qtel with its integrated network solutions, fast delivery of projects, and efficient engineering implementation. All these have helped Qtel quickly deploy the fiber access broadband network in Qatar. Thanks to its insights into Qtel's network conditions and business development, Huawei won the carrier's FTTH Phase II contract. Huawei will provide a Turnkey solution which integrates the central equipment room, optical distribution nodes (ODNs), optical line supervision (OLS), optical access equipment, and other equipment. The project will provide 90,000 additional connections and bring Qtel closer to its target of 100% broadband coverage for households and businesses.

Qtel's COO Walled Mahamed al-Sayed was quoted as saying: "It is an important strategic alliance that will contribute to the growth and development of Qatar, making it one of the best-connected countries in the world. The rollout of these additional 90,000 connections has already begun. We have already laid fiber passing 126,000 homes, have connected 30,000 homes to the fiber network and 10,000 households are already enjoying the fiber services."

According to the studies by Infonectics, OVUM, and BBT on market share for the access field in 2012 Q1: Huawei remained the first in fixed broadband, FTTx, PON, DSL for two consecutive years as well as in 2012 Q1 and continued to lead the development in the global access market.