Qtel, Nepal Telecom ink services tie-up

Qatar Telecom (Qtel), a leading telecom operator, and Nepal Telecom, Nepal’s largest telco, have signed a major agreement that will support international telephone connections between Qatar and Nepal.
Under the terms of the agreement, which is the first to be signed between operators in the two countries, voice traffic will be routed directly via a newly-established cable interconnection. The direct cable connection is the only one of its kind between Qatar and Nepal.
Call quality and interconnection will improve significantly and both companies will be able to offer a new range of attractive call offers to customers calling Nepal and Qatar, a statement said.
In addition, the high-end NGN switches, deployed by both companies as part of the agreement, will add a layer of flexibility that enable better connectivity for both wired and Internet communications.
The enhanced redundant connectivity will provide extra support in case of cable breakdowns or service disruptions.
“Communication is an essential service for people throughout Qatar, and Qtel continues to build new partnerships that ensure our customers can get the most out of their conversations,” said Adel Al Mutawa, executive director, group communications, Qtel.
“We are proud to be the first communications company in Qatar to sign a direct agreement with a Nepalese counterpart, and we can think of no finer partner than Nepal Telecom, which is the leading and largest telecommunication company in Nepal.”
Amar Nath Singh, managing director, Nepal Telecom, said: “This agreement will support direct communication between Nepal and Qatar, and will provide a dependable option to the expatriate community in Qatar to be in constant touch with their friends and families in Nepal, and to facilitate overall people-to-people communication between the general public in the two friendly nations.”
The executives from both companies met in Doha this week for Qtel’s Business development workshop, to review opportunities for collaboration and shared initiatives. Nepal Telecom is the first operator from outside the Middle East region to participate in one of Qtel’s development workshops.