Qtel was the big winner at one of the region’s most important award ceremonies for the telecommunications industry, receiving three major prizes for the company’s outstanding performance in 2010.
The company was named Mobile Operator of the Year Middle East and received the Telecom Deal of the Year at the TMT Finance Middle East 2010 Awards. CEO Dr. Nasser Marafih was named Outstanding TMT Leader of the Year for the second year running.
The “Outstanding TMT Leader of the Year” award was presented to Dr. Nasser Marafih, CEO of Qtel, in recognition of the Qtel Group’s outstanding success in balancing major technological development in core markets like Qatar and Kuwait with significant strides in developing markets like Iraq, Algeria and Indonesia. As of 31 March 2010, the Qtel Group served 67.68 million customers and generated more than 76 percent of revenue outside of Qatar – a major achievement for a company which was a one-country operator just five years ago.
On accepting his award, Dr. Nasser said: “It is very gratifying to receive this award, which ultimately recognizes the achievements of the whole Qtel team. We continue to diligently work to deliver the best possible services for all our customers, so that they can benefit from the mobility, connectivity and speed they need in their daily communications.”
Since becoming CEO in 2002, Dr. Nasser has led the company from strength to strength, successfully guiding Qtel through its transformation programme domestically and globally.
Qtel was named Mobile Operator of the year in recognition of the significant value and choice the Group has brought to every market in which it operates. In 2009, when competition entered the Qatari market for the first time, Qtel launched a range of innovations designed to enhance the customer experience and ensure it remains the most popular provider. Its successful revamp of pre-paid and postpaid mobile services, in addition to the launch of a number of innovative new mobile Internet solutions, has enabled the company to continue to grow the market and win a significant number of new customers.
Qtel received the Telecom Deal of the Year award for its success in raising US$1.5 billon via its inaugural fixed rate bond. The bond issues – which the first-ever telecom bond issue in the Gulf region – was oversubscribed more than eight times, reflecting its resounding success and the confidence the global financial markets feel in Qtel’s long-term strategy for growth and development.
