Qtel Subsidiary Tunisiana Awarded 3G and Fixed Licenses

Doha, May 07 (QNA) - Qatar Telecom (Qtel) announced Monday that its subsidiary Tunisiana S.A. ("Tunisiana"), the leading mobile telecommunications provider in Tunisia, has been awarded licenses to launch and operate a public third-generation ("3G") mobile communication network and a fixed-line network by the Tunisian Ministry of Information Technologies and Communication. The additional licenses were purchased for a combined consideration of 205 million Tunisian Dinars (approx. USD 135 million). In line with regulatory guidelines, the 3G network will be launched in July 2012, with fixed-line services launching at the beginning of 2013, Qtel said in a statement published on the (Qatar Exchange) website. Commenting on the news, Chief Executive Officer of the Qtel Group Dr. Nasser Marafih expressed delighted for awarding Tunisiana the 3G and fixed-line licenses in Tunisia, saying that it is an important step in the Group ability to broaden the range of services. "It will also enable us to leverage our experience and knowledge base across the Qtel Group in the deployment of both the 3G and fixed-line networks, to help ensure that we maintain our market leading position in Tunisia," he added. The Qtel Group is a leading international communications company, with a significant presence in the MENA region and Southeast Asia, and having a consolidated customer base of 83 million as of December 2011. Qtel Group's ultimate parent company is Qatar Telecom (Qtel) Q.S.C., whose shares are listed on the Qatar Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. (QNA)