Ooredoo QSC ( ar, أريد; formerly ''Qtel'') is a Qatari
multinational telecommunications company headquartered in
Doha
Doha ( ar, الدوحة, ad-Dawḥa or ''ad-Dōḥa'') is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the count ...
. Ooredoo provides mobile, wireless, wire line, and content services with market share in domestic and international telecommunication markets, and in business (corporations and individuals) and residential markets.
It was the first operator globally to launch commercial
5G services in Qatar and is one of the world's largest mobile telecommunications companies, with over 121 million customers worldwide as of 2021.
Ooredoo has operations in 10 countries across the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...
,
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
, and
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
, including
Algeria
)
, image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Algiers
, coordinates =
, largest_city = capital
, relig ...
,
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
,
Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
,
Myanmar
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...
,
Maldives
Maldives (, ; dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, translit=Dhivehi Raajje, ), officially the Republic of Maldives ( dv, ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, translit=Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa, label=none, ), is an archipelag ...
,
Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of t ...
,
Palestine (a
de jure
In law and government, ''de jure'' ( ; , "by law") describes practices that are legally recognized, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. In contrast, ("in fact") describes situations that exist in reality, even if not legally ...
sovereign state),
Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...
, and
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
.
Ooredoo's shares are listed on the
Qatar Stock Exchange and the
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (A.D.X.; formerly Abu Dhabi Securities Market (ADSM); ar, سوق أبو ظبي للأوراق المالية) is a stock exchange in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Listed companies by sector
List provided by ...
.
The entity gained international popularity by means of being the title sponsor for the
2021 Qatar Grand Prix.
History
Ooredoo was founded in Doha in 1987 initially as a telephone exchange company. It has since grown to become the largest communications operator in Qatar offering new technologies to the country including mobile, broadband, digital, and fibre services. The publicly-traded company has ownership from the royal family with H.E.
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani as the company's chairman and Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani as Ooredoo Group CEO. Waleed Al-Sayed is Ooredoo Group's deputy CEO and Ooredoo Qatar's CEO.
Qtel Group and all its operating companies worldwide were officially unified under Ooredoo Group in February 2013, as part of the company's strategy to combine its assets in order to form a global business within the telecommunications industry.
The name Ooredoo is Arabic for "I Want", chosen "to reflect the aspirations of Ooredoo customers and the core belief that Ooredoo can enrich people's lives and stimulate human growth in the communities where it operates."
Ooredoo has experienced significant growth over the last six years, transforming from a single market operator in Qatar to an international communications company with a global customer base of more than 114 million customers worldwide (as of September 2015)
and consolidated revenues of QAR 24.2 billion for the first nine months of fiscal year 2015.
In 2010 the company upgraded its 3G network in the country and launched its Mobile Money service. By 2012, its network grew with its fibre network that provided services with download speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s, HDTV, and its initial phase of its 4G LTE mobile broadband service. The company's consumer base has grown significantly in recent times, from 1.9 million subscribers in 2008 to 2.5 million in 2012 within Qatar. Its annual revenues increased by QAR 3.5 billion from 2012 to 2013 in a single quarter.
As of 2013, the company unified under Ooredoo Group.
Current standing
Ooredoo made history when it became the first operator in the world to launch a live
5G network in May 2018. Ooredoo has been gearing up to test this new generation of 5G wireless technology since 2014. The 5G network has already been commercially launched in Qatar and Kuwait.
In the 2010s the company has developed a strong partnership with Nokia in Qatar. In May 2016, the firm expanded this partnership with Nokia in a three-year deal to develop a nationwide mobile network in Qatar. The firm has also broadened its reach with its operations on over 16 countries across the Persian Gulf, Middle East, North Africa, and Asia regions.
The firm has since experienced significant growth with QAR 24.2 billion in revenues in the first three quarters of 2015, and over 17,000 employees.
Ownership
According to Ooredoo's 2016 disclosures, 68% of the company is owned by Qatar government-related entities, 10% by
ADIA
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ( ar, جهاز أبوظبي للاستثمار, ADIA) is a sovereign wealth fund owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (in the United Arab Emirates) founded for the purpose of investing funds on behalf of the Gover ...
(UAE), and the remaining 22% is on the public market.
Operating companies
Middle East
Ooredoo Qatar
![Ooredoo, Al Khor, Qatar 2013 - panoramio](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Ooredoo%2C_Al_Khor%2C_Qatar_2013_-_panoramio.jpg)
Qtel was formally established under Law No. 13 of 1987.
In 2006, Qtel launched 3G services and announced a series of initiatives, including an equity partnership with AT&T in NavLink, international high- speed mobile data (
GPRS) roaming services and the launch of IP (
Internet Protocol
The Internet Protocol (IP) is the network layer communications protocol in the Internet protocol suite for relaying datagrams across network boundaries. Its routing function enables internetworking, and essentially establishes the Internet.
...
) and telephony services.
In 2010, Qtel launched its Mobile Money service and upgraded its 3G network.
In 2012, Qtel continued its roll-out of the nationwide Qtel Fibre network, offering packages with download speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s and HDTV + ooredoo TV . Qtel also began the trial phase of its 4G LTE mobile broadband service.
In February 2013, Qtel officially rebranded as Ooredoo.
In 2015, Ooredoo Qatar announced the launch of Ooredoo SuperNet in one of the most significant network evolution in Qatar's history. The company introduced three-band carrier aggregation, building on its position of being the first and only company to combine 20+10 MHz bands on its 4G+ network.
On July 7, 2017, at the beginning of the
Qatar diplomatic crisis
The Qatar diplomatic crisis was a diplomatic incident in the Middle East that began on 5 June 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and banned Qatar-registered planes and ship ...
, Ooredoo changed its network name to Tamim Almajd in a show of solidarity with the Emir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ( ar, تميم بن حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني; born 3 June 1980, Doha, Qatar) is the Emir of Qatar who succeeded his father, Sheikh Hamad, after Hamad abdicated in his favour.
Tamim is the fourth son ...
.
In January 2020, Ooredoo Qatar signed a partnership with Indian entertainment and media platform
Eros Now
Eros Now is an Indian subscription-based over-the-top, video on-demand entertainment and media platform, launched in 2012. It is owned and controlled by Eros Digital, the Indian digital media management arm of the Indian-American multinational ...
, to make Eros Now's content available to its customers in Qatar.
On 30 September 2021, Ooredoo Group announced that the title of Qatar's first-ever
Formula 1 race will be officially named as the Formula 1 Ooredoo
Qatar Grand Prix
The Qatar Grand Prix is a Formula One motor racing event which is held in Qatar. It was held for the first time on 21 November as part of the championship at the Losail International Circuit, and after not taking place during the season due to ...
. The announcement was made at a press conference at the
Losail International Circuit
The Losail International Circuit or Lusail International Circuit (Arabic: حلبة لوسيل الدولية) is a motor racing circuit located just outside the city of Lusail, north of Doha, Qatar.
Built in just under a year by 1,000 workers ...
in the presence of the Deputy Group CEO and CEO of Ooredoo Qatar Mr.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al Thani & other officials.
Ooredoo Oman
Ooredoo Oman was formerly known as Nawras, which was launched in Oman in 2004.
The company has been listed on the Muscat Securities Market since 2010.
In November 2014, Nawras officially rebranded as Ooredoo Oman.
Ooredoo Oman provides landline voice services to business and residential customers. It also provides a range of prepaid and post-paid mobile phone plans, and broadband internet service, both home and mobile (3G+).
Ooredoo Oman has recently launched full-fledged home entertainment TV services - using set top boxes for home TV, and using apps for Android and iOS mobile devices. It is the first operator in the Middle East region to have launched TV services (including live TV channels and video on demand) from multiple content providers using completely Over The Top (OTT) technology - thus being able to offer its TV services not just for its own broadband and mobile customers, but to other competing operator subscribers too. Its TV content providers include (but not limited to) StarzPlay, YuppTV, Alt Balaji, BluTV, Al Jazeera, EuroNews, FranceTV, ErosNow, FilmBox,
Hopster, Spuul - and more are being added regularly.
The home broadband and voice service is powered by WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) technology. Ooredoo Oman was first to deploy 3G+ in Oman and is the only operator to deploy WiMAX commercially in Oman.
Ooredoo Kuwait
Ooredoo Kuwait's operations began in December 1999 as Wataniya Telecom when it launched wireless services as the second operator in the country.
In March 2007, Ooredoo acquired Kuwait's Wataniya Telecom for US$3.8 billion.
In May 2014, Wataniya Telecom officially re branded as Ooredoo Kuwait.
Asiacell (Ooredoo Iraq)
Asiacell, the first mobile telecommunications company in Iraq, was established in Sulaymaniyah in 1999.
In August 2007, Asiacell bid and won a 15-year national license, becoming the GSM telecom operator with the largest long-term network coverage in Iraq. To handle new business operations, Asiacell also simultaneously established new executive offices in Baghdad, Basra, and other major cities in Iraq.
Ooredoo Palestine
Ooredoo United Arab Emirates
On September 12, 2019, Ooredoo launched in the Emirates thanks to its joint communication and to make the UAE one of the most connected countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, despite the UAE's participation in the
Qatar blockade. In August 2021, it changed its name to E-mobile and belongs to the
VEON
VEON Ltd. (formerly VimpelCom Ltd.) is a Dutch-domiciled multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications, telecommunication services company. It predominantly operates services in the regions of Asia, Africa and Europe. It is the 13t ...
Group.
North Africa
Ooredoo Algeria
Ooredoo Algeria's operations began in 2004 as Nedjma, positioned as the first multimedia operator in Algeria.
In November 2013, Nedjma officially re branded as Ooredoo Algeria.
Ooredoo Algeria introduced the first EDGE network in the country in 2004 and launched 3G services in Algeria in December 2013.
Ooredoo Tunisia
Ooredoo Tunisia was founded in May 2002 as Tunisiana and began commercial operations in December the same year.
In April 2014, Tunisiana officially rebranded as Ooredoo Tunisia.
South Asia
Ooredoo Maldives
Ooredoo Maldives' operations began in February 2005 as Wataniya Maldives, after it was selected during a competitive bidding process with three other companies.
In December 2013, Wataniya Telecom officially re branded as Ooredoo Maldives.
Southeast Asia
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison
Indosat was founded in 1967 and began as a commercial international telecommunications service provider (IDD) in September 1969. It is partially owned by the Indonesian government and was owned by American conglomerate company
ITT until 1980.
In November 2015, Indosat officially rebranded as Indosat Ooredoo. Indosat Ooredoo is the second largest mobile network operator in Indonesia, with a subscriber's strength of 58.0 million users.
In September 2021, Indosat announced its merger with
Hutchison Asia Telecom Group
Hutchison Asia Telecom Group or HAT, is a division of Hong Kong-based multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings. The division provides telecommunications services to several Asian countries. The division was formerly incorporated as H ...
/
Garibaldi Thohir's joint venture PT Hutchison 3 Indonesia (which operates
3-branded networks in Indonesia) to form Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and closed their merger on 4 January 2022.
Ooredoo Myanmar
In June 2013, Ooredoo was chosen as one of the two successful applicants among 90 bidders to be awarded a license to operate in Myanmar, considered one of
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
's last remaining greenfield telecom markets.
Formal licenses were granted in January 2014, and Ooredoo pledged an investment of $15 billion to develop Myanmar's telecoms sector, with plans to cover 75 per cent of the population in five years.
Ooredoo will no longer operate in Myanmar due to the junta problems which is leading to financial problems as of 2022.
Sponsorships
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés Messi (; born 24 June 1987), also known as Leo Messi, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Paris Saint-Germain and captains the Argentina national team. Widely regarded as one of the ...
has worked with Ooredoo since 2013 as their global brand ambassador. As part of the partnership, Ooredoo and the Leo Messi Foundation have developed and sponsored projects to stimulate human growth and development across the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia.
Ooredoo have sponsored
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (), commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain, Paris, Paris SG or simply PSG is a professional football club based in Paris, France. They compete in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. As Fr ...
since 2013 as a premium partner, with Ooredoo's logo featuring on the back of their football kits.
The company is also the title sponsor of the
Qatar Grand Prix
The Qatar Grand Prix is a Formula One motor racing event which is held in Qatar. It was held for the first time on 21 November as part of the championship at the Losail International Circuit, and after not taking place during the season due to ...
.
In 2020, the company appointed
Ali bin Towar al-Kuwari as its
brand ambassador
A brand ambassador (sometimes also called a corporate ambassador) is a person engaged by an organization or company to represent its brand in a positive light, helping to increase brand awareness and sales. The brand ambassador is meant to emb ...
.
Notes
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Qatari brands
Internet service providers
Internet service providers of Qatar
Companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
Companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange
Telecommunications companies of Qatar
Software companies established in 1987
Qatari companies established in 1987
Multinational companies headquartered in Qatar