The Qtel Group and Vodafone Qatar yesterday signed two new strategic agreements that would deliver significant benefits for customers. The Outdoor Site Sharing Agreement allows Vodafone Qatar to share Qtel mobile towers and Qtel to share Vodafone Qatar mobile towers. Both companies will have separate active mobile networks. The Interconnection Agreement allows customers of Qtel and Vodafone Qatar to communicate with each other. The two agreements were officially signed by Dr Nasser Marafih, Chief Executive Officer of Qtel Group, and Grahame Maher, CEO of Vodafone Qatar. Dr Marafih said: “Qtel has long supported competition within Qatar’s communications sector, as we believe that it will highlight the world class service that Qtel provides to its customers who are at the heart of everything we do. These agreements – which have been mutually supported as fair and equitable – are a concrete demonstration of the fact that Qtel welcomes competition.” “Under the agreement on Outdoor Site Sharing, we expect that Qtel will share more than half of Qtel’s mobile network towers,” he added. Outdoor Site Sharing is significant because it is the first time in the region that site sharing has been agreed, and one of the few times that site sharing has been agreed between an incumbent and a second operator before full commercial launch. By sharing sites, the two companies will both be able to streamline costs and reduce environmental impact by avoiding unnecessary duplication of towers. Maher said: “Vodafone Qatar is delighted to have signed these agreements with Qtel. Interconnection enables Vodafone Qatar customers to communicate with Qtel customers. Outdoor Site Sharing is consistent with Vodafone Qatar bringing leading international practice to Qatar to ensure that both Qtel and Vodafone Qatar provide national mobile network coverage and supports the environment by reducing unnecessary duplication of towers. “Vodafone Qatar believes the signing of these agreements is the start of an important partnership with Qtel, and will support Vodafone Qatar to introduce retail competition and choice for customers.” http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local%5FNews&subsection=Qatar+News&month=March2009&file=Local_News200903182359.xml

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