Ooredoo launches 4G LTE in Qatar

Ooredoo (formerly Qtel) has announced the official launch of its 4G LTE network. Ooredoo is launching the service on a phased basis, with 4G speeds initially available in Doha and the Sealine district, and plans are in place to add to the total number of towers every month.

With Ooredoo 4G, customers can experience connection speeds that are three-to-six times faster than the existing 3G network. This enables seamless connections when browsing multimedia-rich websites, updating social media, or streaming music and HD video with 4G USB modems and Mi-Fi devices. For example, customers can download a 600MB album or HD movie in only a few minutes.

Since last year, hundreds of customers have been testing the 4G LTE network, and Ooredoo has used their feedback to optimise the user experience. The move is another major step towards making Qatar one of the best-connected countries in the world, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Customers will need to use mobile devices that are compatible with 800MHz and 2,600MHz frequencies to enjoy the benefits of 4G, which include less latency and faster speeds.

Ooredoo also announced the launch of a new 4G Mi-Fi device and a new 4G-enabled dongle, which provide customers access to 4G.

By the end of 2014, Ooredoo intends to have all inhabited areas of Qatar covered by its 4G LTE network.