Qtel plans commercial fibre launch by mid-2011

Qatari incumbent Qtel plans for the commercial launch of its fibre network by mid-2011.
The company has deployed more than 200 kilometres of fibre in the past month.
Given the fast rate of deployment, Qtel is confident that the 18-month migration of customers from the copper network to the fibre network will begin by the middle of 2011, according to a company statement.
The country is speeding up the fibre roll out to introduce services including high speed internet, and HD television to the home and small businesses.
Upon implementation, the fibre network is to enable building of “smart homes” and other services including digital signage and security services.
Qtel launched the fibre deployment project in March 2010.