#qtel

SvxLink Server by SM0SVX

SvxLink is a project that develops software targeting the ham radio community. It started out as an EchoLink application for Linux back in 2003 but has now evolved to be something much more advanced. It is a project of Tobias Blomberg SM0SVX. 

The SvxLinkServer is a general purpose voice services system, which when connected to a transceiver, can act as both an advanced repeater system and can…

Some five and a half months after launching 4G LTE mobile internet in Qatar, state-backed telecom company Ooredoo has enabled the service for smartphones.

Officially launched today, the service now also allows prepaid and postpaid Ooredoo customers without an unlimited internet subscription to purchase a monthly "4G key" for QR60.

The key allows users to access the 4G network at Ooredoo's standard data rates, as long as you are on a "Shahry" postpaid plan, or have subscribed to either a weekly pack or mobile internet pack for prepaid "Hala" customers. Hala customers can pay for the key at a weekly QR15 rate.

Previously the high speed internet service only worked through a USB device or standalone 4G modem. 

The company boasts 4G LTE network speeds are three to six times faster than the existing 3G mobile internet speeds.

Ooredoo's sole competitor in the country, Vodafone Qatar, has previously said it plans to role out 4G service to its customers next year.

Notably, not all smartphones are compatible with Oooredoo's 4G LTE network, including some of the most popular brand: Apple iPhones, BlackBerry and Samsung phones. But a number of HTC, Sony Xperia and Nokia Lumia devices work on the supported 800mhz and 2600mhz network bands.

To activate the service, users can SMS "4G" to 114 for postpaid or 121 for prepaid.

Who's tried it? What do you think?

Ooredoo will roll out its super-fast 4G mobile broadband network across Doha tomorrow, the company has announced.

The service, which is three to six times faster than the existing 3G internet, will allow users to stream high-definition videos and access their high-bandwidth content while on the move. But 4G is only guaranteed to work outdoors, won't come cheap and doesn't work on smartphones yet.

To get 4G, customers must first subscribe to Ooredoo’s Unlimited Mobile Broadband service for QR400 a month. Then, to access the 4G service an additional subscription to Ooredoo’s 4G Key is required, which costs QR60 monthly. Users will also have to buy either a QR599 USB stick or a 4G QR999 MiFi device that allows up to 10 devices to be connected at once. 

The best places to use 4G are: The Pearl, Katara, West Bay, the Corniche, Souq Waqif, Aspire Park and Sealine Resort. A map of coverage zones can be found here and full coverage of Qatar is expected to be achieved by the end of 2014. 

According to Ooredoo's FAQs page:

Ooredoo’s 4G coverage is the strongest outdoors, the indoor coverage varies by construction materials, the design of the building, your position inside. Indoor coverage is our best effort but we cannot guarantee the same speeds as for outdoor coverage.

During this afternoon's press conference, Oooredoo officials stressed that the rollout is in its preliminary stages. Smartphones will not be able to access the 4G network until at least September, and there is no timeline for offering Shahry and Hala packs, though those are also part of the plan.

Over the past seven months, a few hundred residents have been testing out the service. They will be able to use their Ooredoo-provided devices for free for the next weeks and hold on to them, officials said at a press conference this afternoon.

Do you plan to subscribe to this service?

Thoughts?

A mistakenly cut fiber optic cable is the source of mobile and landline disruptions for Ooredoo users in Qatar today, the company has announced.

Service has been restored in some areas of Qatar, and Ooredoo is working to bring other areas back online, it said on Twitter:

We apologise for the disruption to landline & mobile services during the past few hours as construction contractors mistakenly cut off (1/3)

March 20, 2013

..the fibre optic network in North Area. This affects many areas in Qatar. Our teams are working to rectify the issue. Service is back (2/3)

March 20, 2013

.. in some areas in Qatar and we will update when service is fully restored in all areas. We apologise for the inconvenience caused (3/3)

March 20, 2013

It is not immediately clear how many people have been affected by the cut cable or how long it will take to restore services.

Have you been hit by the disruptions?

Thoughts?

There has been a mixed response on social media last night and this morning to Qtel's re-branding, which was announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last night. 

The image revamp includes a brand new name - so it's farewell "Qtel," and hello "Ooredoo."

Ooredoo's Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, explains the reasoning behind the switch:

“With Ooredoo we have chosen an Arabic word that means “I want”, to reflect the aspirations of our customers and our core belief that we can enrich people’s lives and stimulate human growth in the communities where we operate."

The company says that the new name will allow it to apply a single brand to its subsidiaries around the world - Indosat in Indonesia, Wataniya in Kuwait, Nawras in Oman, Tunisiana in Tunisia, and Nedjma in Algeria.

We checked out the company's website this morning, and it's still sporting the old Qtel logo - although a pop-up window told us that "change is coming."

Doha News reader Yasser Masood put together a timeline of tweets from the launch using Storify, including lots of reaction to the new name.

(Click through or scroll down to see it)

A major identity overhaul is in the works for Qatar's largest telecom provider, several influential Qataris and others who met with Qtel's chairman today have said.

#Qtel plans on changing its brand with new name and a new logo.

February 17, 2013

فخور وسعيد بلقائي صباح اليوم مع رئيس مجلس إدارة كيوتل الشيخ عبدالله آل ثاني حول هوية كيوتل الجديدة والتي ستدشن بيوم ٢٥فبراير القادم

February 17, 2013

Responding to an inquiry from Doha News, Qtel spokeswoman Fatima Al-Kuwari confirmed that a company announcement would take place at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Feb. 25, but did not go into specifics.

Those who convened for a meeting with chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al-Thani today, including journalists from Arabic-language media, said they did not know what the new logo looked like. But they added that it would reflect a more "global" and "dynamic" identity, as the company has some 90 million subscribers across the Middle East and Asia.

Thoughts?

Qatar residents now have the ability to switch mobile phone providers from Qtel to Vodafone or vice versa while retaining their numbers, ictQatar has announced.

The number portability service, which has been years in the making, officially took effect on Jan. 31, and has been hailed by the government as a way to increase competition and improve services for consumers here.

But neither telecom provider has been eager to publicize the service on their websites or social media channels, and only a handful of shops are equipped to provide it so far.

The process

To switch to Qtel or Vodafone, visit the companies' shops in Landmark or City Center mall. UPDATE: All Qtel shops now provide MNP services.

The process for both providers is the same: Visit a branch office to fill out an application and send an SMS to 151 with the word "SWITCH." Both must be done within 24 hours of each other.

For Qtel, there is no charge to switch and you be will be provided a free SIM card. The switch will take place within 48 hours. Find more information here.

Caveats

You can switch between the providers as often as you'd like, but keep these caveats in mind, as this is not a straightforward procedure:

The phone number must be in your name, or it cannot be switched.

You'll need your Qatar ID or passport when filing the application.

You cannot transfer any unused credit or other allowances between providers.

You will lose your voicemail messages.

Make sure to save contacts to your phone before switching SIM cards.

You must pay your last issued bill to Vodafone or Qtel before switching. Any payments not settled within 30 days will require the competitor to bar you from using its services.

One more helpful tip: It costs more to call someone who doesn't use the same service provider as you.

So to check whether a mobile number belongs to Qtel or Vodafone, send an SMS to 167, including the mobile number you want to inquire about (but without the country code), ie 12345678. You will receive an SMS explaining which network the number is on.

Who's planning to do this?

Thoughts?