QATAR -- Qtel’s robust financial results announced earlier this week, which saw the company report a record-setting QAR 5,926.7 million revenue for Q2, were made possible in part because of the company’s continued success in its home market in Qatar, it was announced today.

Dr. Nasser Marafih, Chief Executive Officer, Qtel, confirmed the company’s continued investment and ambitions for the Qatar market in a special press meeting held in Qatar.

For the first half of 2009, the Group achieved solid consolidated group revenue of QAR 11.5 billion (H1 2008: QAR 8.1 billion), with growth of 42 percent. The Group’s net profit attributable to shareholders for the same period in H1 2009 reached QAR 1.6 billion, registering 38 percent year-on-year growth (H1 2008: QAR 1.2 billion). At 30 June 2009 the Group’s consolidated customer base stood at 52.2 million.

Even as Qtel operations become more globally diverse, Qatar remains at the heart of the company, said the CEO.

Dr. Nasser Marafih said, “Qtel continues to deepen our presence across international markets, and are seeing strong results from key markets like Indonesia, Iraq, Oman and across our Wataniya operations, where we are positioned for further profitable growth.

"However our international success is built upon the foundations here in our home market of Qatar, where we continue to innovate in our product range and continue to get closer to our customers. Most importantly, we have been able to venture boldly abroad and retain our strong links to our culture and traditions here at home.”

Qtel has activated a robust strategy to manage increased competition in the Qatar market, and has continued to realize positive results from this. The company’s total consolidated customer base in the country grew 29 percent in the period to 2.2 million, up from the previous period total of 1.7 million.

Mobile customers reached 1.9 million customers at 30 June 2009, growth of 32 percent, and exceeded 2 million in July 2009 for the first time.

Recognizing the long-term potential impact of competition in the marketplace, Qtel is successfully executing a strategy across local and global markets which seeks to focus on market share of revenue, and not just headline customer numbers. It is doing this through the provision of the highest quality of business and consumer solutions, ensuring that customers enjoy world-class service supported by highly-advanced networks.

A number of new initiatives have contributed to the success of this strategy in the first-half of the year. Qtel’s first-ever Reward Program, Nojoom, registered more than 30,000 customers in the first three weeks of its launch, and continues to draw people through its offering of great rewards in exchange for using Qtel products and services.

Other key initiatives in the second quarter include the launch of SmartRoamer, which provides special roaming rates across the GCC; BillXpress, an innovative service that enables companies to manage communication costs online; and Qtel’s initiative to double Broadband speeds for customers across Qatar for free.

Qtel is also enjoying the continued popularity of Mozaic TV+, which, with 13,000 customers, grew by 61 percent during the first six months of the year.

Looking to the future, the company continues to roll-out a range of exciting promotions and services for Ramadan, reflecting the cultural importance of the season for the people of Qatar.

“Qtel is proud of being a Qatari company, and we owe our continued success to the people of Qatar. As Qatar continues to thrive as a dynamic nation, we have the confidence to continue to pursue an ambitious strategy to bring the rewards of our international expansion home so that current and future generations will benefit,” concluded Dr. Nasser.

Qatar Telecom QSC (Qtel)