Nokia to support Ooredoo’s long-term development strategy across its footprint in Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia

• Agreement covers supply of advanced mobile broadband infrastructure and professional services for Ooredoo Group

Ooredoo Group and Nokia have signed a major framework agreement in Doha to support Ooredoo’s long-term development strategy across its footprint in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. Under the five-year contract, Nokia will provide advanced mobile broadband technologies and professional services to help Ooredoo Group ensure superior 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE-A networks to offer advanced voice and data services for its customers across its range of mature and emerging markets.

Doha, Qatar, 13-10-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — In the renewed agreement, the terms and conditions have been revised to include global best practices in terms of delivery and technology for the benefit of both companies.

Ooredoo has taken the lead in network performance across its footprint, offering 4G+ in Qatar and Kuwait, and 4G in Oman, Tunisia, and the Maldives, in addition to launching the first commercial 3G in Algeria and Myanmar. Frame agreements such as the one signed with Nokia are one of the tools the Group uses to reinforce its leadership position.

Click to Tweet: New 5 year agreement signed by Ooredoo and @nokianetworks for mobile network supply http://nokia.ly/1YKaim6 #NetworksPerform

Ahmed Al-Derbesti, COO of Ooredoo Group, said: “Working with Nokia, Ooredoo has designed and built a range of leading-edge networks that enable us to enrich our customers’ lives. This renewed framework agreement is significant, as it covers the delivery of all the latest technologies and support services helping us further enhance our network capacity and coverage.”

Ashish Chowdhary, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Nokia Networks, said: “We value our long-term partnership with Ooredoo, and are committed to helping it provide world-class voice and data services, and meet burgeoning data demand. Our hands-on innovation approach enables mobile broadband networks to deliver gigabytes of personalized data per user per day profitably and securely by 2020. With our latest innovations we will support Ooredoo to prepare for the huge data demand, and provide high-speed data services with improved network coverage, in addition to clearer voice call services to ensure the ultimate personal gigabyte experience.”

Demonstrating the power of the partnership Ooredoo Qatar, Nokia Networks and China Mobile showcased a record-breaking speed of 4.1 Gbps over TDD-FDD LTE at the ITU Telecom World 2014. Supported by the Global TD-LTE Initiative, the speed was achieved by combining TDD- and FDD-LTE spectrums and aggregating 10 carriers with 200 MHz bandwidth.

In Qatar, Ooredoo has also recently deployed Nokia Networks’ high-capacity small cells, which will enhance Ooredoo’s 3G and 4G network for a better customer experience. With the Flexi Zone small cells complementing its existing network, Ooredoo will be able to provide advanced voice and data services to its customers even in the most crowded indoor and outdoor areas.

Pictures of agreement signing by Ooredoo Group and Nokia Networks are available:

Picture 1– left to right: Ashish Chowdhary, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Nokia Networks; and Ahmed Al-Derbesti, COO of Ooredoo Group.

Picture 2 – left to right: Hernan Munoz, Group Chief Technology Officer, Ooredoo; Ashish Chowdhary, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Nokia Networks; Ahmed Al-Derbesti, COO of Ooredoo Group; Christian Friedrich Linhart, Executive Director, Group Procurement, Ooredoo; Bernard Najm, Vice President and Head of Middle East and Africa, Nokia Networks; Samer Qablawi, Head of Group Customer Business Team, Ooredoo at Nokia Networks; Juan Ponte, Group Senior Manager Contracts, Ooredoo.

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About Ooredoo
Ooredoo is a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. As a community-focused company, Ooredoo is guided by its vision of enriching people’s lives and its belief that it can stimulate human growth by leveraging communications to help people achieve their full potential. Ooredoo has a presence in markets such as Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Palestine, the Maldives, Myanmar and Indonesia. The company was named “Best Mobile Operator of the Year” at the World Communication Awards 2013.

The company reported revenues of US$ 9.1 billion in 2014 and had a consolidated global customer base of more than 107 million people as of 31 December 2014. Ooredoo’s shares are listed on the Qatar Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

Twitter: @Ooredoo
Facebook: facebook.com/ooredoogroup
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/ooredoo
YouTube: www.youtube.com/ooredoogroup

About Nokia
By focusing on the human possibilities of technology, Nokia embraces the connected world to help people thrive. Our three businesses are leaders in their fields: Nokia Networks provides broadband infrastructure, software and services; HERE provides mapping, navigation and location intelligence; and Nokia Technologies provides advanced technology development and licensing. www.nokia.com

Nokia Networks, which provides broadband infrastructure, software and services, operates at the forefront of our industry. From the first ever call on GSM to the first call on LTE, we have set the pace of innovation, a record that continues with future technologies such as 5G. Together with our operator customers, who serve close to 5 billion subscribers, we are embracing the opportunity of the connected world and helping to solve its challenges.http://networks.nokia.com/

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SOURCE: Nokia Solutions and Networks