Qtel’s E-Billing Fuels a Greener Future

Qtel’s e-Billing initiative has captured the Qatar public’s imagination, with more than 13,000 customers signing up to switch over to electronic bills on the first day of the service.
Qtel announced earlier in the year that it will phase out paper billing for customers by 1 October 2011. The company took a major step forward this month, when it announced that customers could stop their paper bills immediately and receive their Qtel bills via e-mail.
The detailed bills are sent to customers’ email accounts in the form of a special, secure PDF, which is easier to electronically file, and which uses far fewer resources in production.
With a high initial take-up, and ongoing interest from customers, Qtel is confident the programme will be a strong success.
Adel Al Mutawa, Executive Director, Group Communications, Qtel, said: “We are very pleased with the enthusiastic response to Qtel’s e-billing initiative, which shows that people are very supportive of environmental efforts in Qatar. Qtel is continuing to invest in processes and technology that help preserve resources and ensure a sustainable future.”
Customers who want to continue to receive paper bills from 1 October will still be able to, but there will be a nominal charge of QR5 per bill per month for those who take this option.
The money raised by charging for the paper bills will be re-invested into Qtel’s pioneering e-Waste Recycling programme, which offers an immediate and convenient disposal point for unwanted electronic goods.
To switch over to e-billing, customers can immediately apply via SMS or through the pioneering eQtel service on the new Qtel Portal.
Customers can send a free SMS with “EB<space>email ID<space>QID Number” (e.g. EB ahmed@myemail.com 123456789) to 114, receive a verification message of the email ID supplied, and be immediately switched to e-billing upon confirmation.
Alternatively, customers can select the e-bill option and provide their email ID in their Account Page on the eQtel website, or they can call 111 and provide their Qatar ID details to do so. Customers can even switch over in Qtel Shops across the country.
Customers who sign up for E-bill before 1 October 2011 can even win one of 10 iPads or 25,000 Nojoom points.
Qtel currently provides paper billing for a wide range of post paid services, including residential phone-lines, Mozaic TV, Shahry, Mobile Broadband and ADSL services.
Environmental issues are a key pillar in Qtel’s strategy for CSR, “For Qatar, Hand in Hand.” This pioneering strategy has supported a wide range of initiatives that have made an immediate and sustainable impact in Qatar.