Qtel launches first defense of landline dominance

The gloves are off in Qatar, with incumbent Qtel offering customers free landline connections and three months free rental. This development comes as Vodafone Qatar prepares to launch mobile services in Q109 and fixed-line services later in the year.

Qtel is ramping up the defense of its landline market before the launch of Vodafone, with savings of QAR299 (US$82) available for new landline customers.

Qtel’s promotion follows a string of heavily discounted mobile and fixed offers, and network improvements in the past few months. These include Qtel doubling mobile broadband speeds, offering a free WiFi router for all ADSL connections, upgrading its HSDPA network, and providing the cheapest broadband prices found in the Gulf.

Qtel customers have until the end of February to take advantage of the current promotion, with savings of QAR299 (US$82) on offer. A free connection will save customers QAR200, while three free months of line rental is worth QAR99. This is in addition to free local landline calls.

There are approximately 250,000 landlines in Qatar at present, representing a penetration rate of 30 per cent.