By Mohammad Shoeb
DOHA: Ooredoo Qatar, the main television service provider in the country, expects some 80,000 subscribers of its newly-launched ‘Ooredoo tv’ by the end of 2016, which is expected to further enhance its customer base and revenues in the country, said a top official of the telecom giant.
The total number of Ooredoo Qatar customers in 2015 crossed over 3.5 million, up by more than 11 percent compared to 3.15 million in 2014. The Qatari market is important to the Ooredoo Group as with only 3 percent customer base Ooredoo Qatar contributed about 25 percent, or QR7.89bn, to the Group’s total revenue of QR32.2bn in 2015. The company launched ‘Ooredoo tv’ in mid-February, aiming to replace its existing Mozaic TV. The Android powered Ooredoo tv offers over 400 live channels, 4K picture quality and advance control through smartphone or tablet computers.
“About 15,000 customers have already subscribed to the service since its launch, and we are expecting over 80,000 subscribers by the end of this year,” Waleed Al Sayed, CEO of Ooredoo Qatar told The Peninsula recently.
Al Sayed added that the launch of Ooredoo tv was a yet another milestone for the company, as the new product takes home entertainment to the next level in Qatar.
Ooredoo has become the first operator in the region to offer a commercial 4K service.
The 4K picture quality allows viewers to enjoy a HD experience even on the largest screens.
The new service has been designed as an evolution in home entertainment services, combining apps, on-demand and live TV in one easy-to-use box.
Given the wide range of the company’s products and services in Qatar, it has become one of the most important markets for the Group and Qatar has been given a focus for further enhancing the quality of its services and customer base.
Ooredoo Qatar’s revenue growth is consistent in line with the growth of its customer base. Revenue in Qatar witnessed nearly 10.5 percent growth in 2015 compared to QR7.15bn in 2014.
The Group’s global customer base reached 117 million in 2015 through its presence in nearly a dozen countries, including Indonesia, Algeria, Kuwait, Oman and Iraq, among others, representing a year-on-year growth of 9 percent, according to the Group’s Annual Report 2015. “Qatar is an engine of prosperity and a driver of innovation for Ooredoo. The strength of Ooredoo Supernet, positive response from our customers and new opportunities for growth within the Qatari market make us confident that we will continue to see success in the coming year,” said Al Sayed.
In 2015, the company launched ‘Ooredoo Supernet’, the umbrella name for all Ooredoo networks and a promise of superior experience for customers. It encompasses all mobile, fixed, Wi-Fi, TETRA and digital entertainment services.
The company also extended its nationwide fibre roll-out, positioning Qatar among the top five in terms of fibre penetration worldwide. Over 260,000 homes are now connected to Ooredoo Fibre, along with commercial buildings and developments.
After Qatar, Ooredoo has its second largest operations in Indonesia, in terms of revenue, accounting for 23 percent of the total and 60 percent of the global customer base.
The Peninsula
