Q-Tel is the exclusive telecommunications provider in Qatar. It offers national and international, fixed and mobile telephony but also Internet and cable television services. The company was introduced on the Doha Securities Market (DSM) in 1998.

Subsequently, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1999 and on the Bahrain and Abu Dhabi Stock markets in 2001 and 2002 respectively. In March 2005, a consortium led by Q-Tel (Q-Tel: 55%, TDC of Denmark: 7%, Omani investors: 38%) has launched a subsidiary in Oman which operates under Nawras Telecom brand name.

Nawras offers mobile services and had a customer base of 174,000 as of September 2005 (15% market share). Nawras paid USD 104 mn as license fees for a period of 15 years and plans to invest USD 195 mn during the first two years of operations.

The group has grown its mobile customer base to 849,400 as of Q3 2005 (Qatar + Oman), an increase of 78.5% over the corresponding period the previous year. Q-tel had 2,144 employees (including 284 employees working with Nawras) as of Q3 2005 (vs.

1,791 one year earlier).