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Telco charges 469 per month for 1-Gbps Internet service; also launches home WiFi offer for VIP customers with large villas.
Ooredoo Qatar has launched a 1-Gbps fibre broadband offering and a new premier WiFi service designed to provide better coverage for customers living in large homes.
The telco announced the arrival of 1-Gbps fibre at the weekend, although it has not disclosed how widely available the service is.
Its existing fibre broadband offer, which provides speeds of up to 300 Mbps, is available in Doha and a handful of other locations, but the telco is working on rolling out wider coverage.
"We are one of the first operators in the world to launch 1-Gbps fibre home services and the very first in Qatar," said company CEO Waleed Al Sayed, in a statement.
"Ooredoo believes in future-proofing our network, and we continue to strive to bring our country the latest technology first," he said.
The 1-Gbps service costs 1,900 riyals (€469) per month, including a landline service and access to Ooredoo TV. However, customers upgrading from an existing fibre package will be given the first two months at no extra charge.
By way of comparison, Ooredoo’s 300-Mbps service, also including landline and TV, is priced at QAR700 per month, while its entry-level 10-Mbps offer costs QAR250 (€62) per month. There are other packages in between.
Alongside the 1-Gbps launch, Oooredoo presented its new Platinum HomeZone product designed, in its own words, to offer "full WiFi Internet coverage for customers with large villas and mansions."
Essentially, the service provides additional Internet points in large houses, ensuring a better WiFi signal in-building and throughout the grounds. "Customers can even enjoy WiFi coverage in their gardens and swimming pools by deploying the service," the telco said.
The service is designed to work well even in the presence of difficult building materials, such as marble or oak, it added.
"We heard from our VIP customers that they wanted comprehensive WiFi coverage in their villas, and have partnered with companies who can deliver the additional hardware and ensure it blends seamlessly into their home environments.," Al Sayed said.
Ooredoo worked with wireless networking specialist HPE Aruba on the service, as well as IT solutions firm GBM, which will handle installation and operation on its behalf.
