Qatar Telecom Seeking Customers to Test its LTE Network

Qatat Telecom (Qtel) says that hundreds of customers will take part in one of the region’s largest tests of a LTE network before Qtel commercially launches the service in the end of 2012.

Qtel started to rollout its LTE network few months back, and is now confident that it will integrate smoothly with the existing 3G network.

Waleed Al Sayed, Qtel’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “By the end of this year, Qtel customers using the 4G LTE network in Doha will have incredibly fast access to high-bandwidth content such as high-definition (HD) videos and the ability to upload and download big files through the latest generation 4G USB modems and MiFi devices.”

With the launch of the test phase, a group of Qtel customers throughout Doha will test the 4G LTE network, and will provide feedback to validate the network before the service is commercially-launched in the end of 2012.

As part of the build-up phase, Qtel has installed 100 antennas throughout Doha, including in The Pearl, Katara, West Bay, the Corniche, and Sealine. Earlier, Qtel received the 800 Mhz and 2,600 Mhz bandwidth frequencies from the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR).

After the trial, Qtel will launch its LTE network to all customers starting in Doha.