Qtel has completed the trial phase of its first “Fibre to the Home” (FTTH) service, which will deliver the fastest-ever Internet speeds in Qatar. Fibre to the Home is an advanced technology that uses optical fibres to deliver lightening fast Internet, phone and digital television directly to people’s homes. Qtel is working with a number of leading developers to provide the service for projects in the Mesaieed and West Bay Lagoon areas of Qatar, with a target of making commercial services available in these areas by the end of 2009. Initially, the service will provide speeds of up to 50 megabits per second, with the capability to upgrade to 100 megabits and more in the near future. As well as direct services to residences, Qtel will also pioneer a “Fibre to the Building” service, which will provide fibre to apartment blocks and multiple housing developments, which can then be used by every resident. Once the initial roll-out to Mesaieed and West Bay Lagoon is complete, Qtel is also planning to expand the service across Greater Doha and the wider nation. “Fibre to the Home will make a major difference in the lives of everyone in Qatar, bringing some of the fastest-speeds and best quality networks to residents and businesses. We are looking at the complete transformation of the Broadband services experience in Qatar, and – given the progress witnessed so far – we are confident that many people will be enjoying this service before the end of the year,” said Khalil Al-Emadi, Executive Director, Networks, Qtel. “Qtel’s Broadband Qatar Strategy aims to offer the best-possible platform for the development of the knowledge-based economy and for the educational growth of the next generation, and FTTH will play a key role in executing this strategy,” he added. Globally, Fibre to the Home is emerging as the broadband delivery model of choice, with more than 13 million FTTH-connected homes in Japan, six million in the US and China and nearly two million FTTH subscribers in Europe. With Qtel’s support, Qatar is looking to take a lead in the region in terms of the extent of FTTH penetration and availability. During the trial phase, Qtel provided Broadband Internet, phone and IPTV based television to end terminals in two different model sites and conducted a series of tests to ensure that each development will have full benefit from FTTH technology. Qtel is working with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, a leader in providing next generation telecommunications network solutions, to develop Qatar’s first FTTH network. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=August2009&file=Local_News2009080925957.xml

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