Qtel planning to launch broadband services using the WiMax technology in the Philippines in the coming months. In a recent interview with CommsMEA, Dr Nasser Marafih, CEO, Qtel, described WiMAX as being an “important pillar” of the company’s strategy, and confirmed that Qtel was planning to launch services in the Philippines in the first few months of 2010 through its Wi-Tribe.
“Wi-Tribe already launched services in Jordan in 2008 and we also launched our operation in Pakistan a couple of months ago, and we are planning to launch services in the Philippines early next year. The reason for this is we believe WiMAX is the right technology to provide fixed broadband at this stage,” he said.
Marafih added that he sees a significant opportunity for fixed wireless services in Pakistan and the Philippines, which both have low broadband penetration rates and widely dispersed populations. One of Wi-Tribe’s rivals in Pakistan, Abu Dhabi Group’s Wateen Telecom, said recently that it had accelerated the rollout of its WiMAX infrastructure with the aim of doubling its customer premises equipment volume from 100,000 to 200,000 by the end of the year.
Saudi Arabian operator Mobily, said this week that it had extended its WiMAX coverage to more than 20 additional districts in Riyadh, including Mekal, Al Yamamah, Al Salam, west Uraijaa, and Al Rayyan.
Photo Courtesy of Nigel@hornchurch via Flickr
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