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Satyendra Pathak
Doha
Ooredoo will throw a major 5G-enabled surprise during the upcoming Amir Cup, the telecom company’s chairman said on Tuesday.
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the company’s annual general assembly meeting in Doha, Ooredoo Chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud al Thani said, “Ooredoo surprised everyone by launching the first commercially available 5G network in the world and became the first telecom operator to test self-driving 5G-connected aerial taxi.
“Let the Amir Cup come, it will be a bigger surprise this time. I cannot disclose it right now. What all I can say is it’s going to be a very big surprise for all of us,” he said.
Digital empowerment is the future and Ooredoo is committed to making the necessary investments that will contribute to provide modern network to help customers succeed and grow, he said.
As part of the Group’s vision, the chairman said, Ooredoo is digitising its companies and has introduced initiatives to enable it to use its resources more efficiently.
“Transforming the Group’s internal procedures into digital procedures will enable our companies to streamline their objectives more efficiently,” he said.
Besides Qatar, he said, adoption of new technologies was evident in all markets including the launch of pre-5G technology through home broadband in Oman, the first operator to roll out 4G in all areas of Algeria and the launch of 3G in the West Bank for the first time.
“Despite our progress in the digital sphere, the structural changes in our industry that have impacted all operators affected Ooredoo and increased the pressure on voice revenue. This was exacerbated in 2018 by general foreign exchange weakness of currencies in emerging markets. Therefore, we have made leadership changes where appropriate and pushed cost optimisation to ensure good returns,” he said.
In a statement issued during the meeting, Ooredoo Group CEO Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al Thani highlighted the growing brand value of Ooredoo.
As per Brand Finance, he said, Ooredoo is valued at $3.3 billion placing the company among the top 50 telecom brands in the world.
“We continue to invest in developing our brand, because it provides us with an important competitive age by connecting with young, digitally aware customers,” he said.
“Our focus on digital-enabling provides our operations across the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia with clear direction as we move forward,” he said.
The meeting approved distribution of cash dividend of QR2.5 per share to the shareholders.
Earlier highlighting the robust results from the majority of the Group’s operating companies, Sheikh Abdullah said, “Financial highlights of 2018 included revenues of QR29.9 billion, with strong contributions from Oman and Kuwait. Net profits to Ooredoo shareholders were QR1.565 billion, with net profits in the fourth quarter of 2018 much improved compared to the same period in 2017 due to reduced operational cost and tax.
“B2B revenues were QR 5.2 billion, reflecting Ooredoo’s continued support of its business, SME and government customers. Significant revenue contributions came from data, with strong contributions from Qatar and Indonesia resulting in data revenue reaching 47 percent to QR 14.2 billion, further confirming the success of the Group’s development and growth strategy.”
Doha
Ooredoo will throw a major 5G-enabled surprise during the upcoming Amir Cup, the telecom company’s chairman said on Tuesday.
Talking to media persons on the sidelines of the company’s annual general assembly meeting in Doha, Ooredoo Chairman Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud al Thani said, “Ooredoo surprised everyone by launching the first commercially available 5G network in the world and became the first telecom operator to test self-driving 5G-connected aerial taxi.
“Let the Amir Cup come, it will be a bigger surprise this time. I cannot disclose it right now. What all I can say is it’s going to be a very big surprise for all of us,” he said.
Digital empowerment is the future and Ooredoo is committed to making the necessary investments that will contribute to provide modern network to help customers succeed and grow, he said.
As part of the Group’s vision, the chairman said, Ooredoo is digitising its companies and has introduced initiatives to enable it to use its resources more efficiently.
“Transforming the Group’s internal procedures into digital procedures will enable our companies to streamline their objectives more efficiently,” he said.
Besides Qatar, he said, adoption of new technologies was evident in all markets including the launch of pre-5G technology through home broadband in Oman, the first operator to roll out 4G in all areas of Algeria and the launch of 3G in the West Bank for the first time.
“Despite our progress in the digital sphere, the structural changes in our industry that have impacted all operators affected Ooredoo and increased the pressure on voice revenue. This was exacerbated in 2018 by general foreign exchange weakness of currencies in emerging markets. Therefore, we have made leadership changes where appropriate and pushed cost optimisation to ensure good returns,” he said.
In a statement issued during the meeting, Ooredoo Group CEO Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al Thani highlighted the growing brand value of Ooredoo.
As per Brand Finance, he said, Ooredoo is valued at $3.3 billion placing the company among the top 50 telecom brands in the world.
“We continue to invest in developing our brand, because it provides us with an important competitive age by connecting with young, digitally aware customers,” he said.
“Our focus on digital-enabling provides our operations across the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia with clear direction as we move forward,” he said.
The meeting approved distribution of cash dividend of QR2.5 per share to the shareholders.
Earlier highlighting the robust results from the majority of the Group’s operating companies, Sheikh Abdullah said, “Financial highlights of 2018 included revenues of QR29.9 billion, with strong contributions from Oman and Kuwait. Net profits to Ooredoo shareholders were QR1.565 billion, with net profits in the fourth quarter of 2018 much improved compared to the same period in 2017 due to reduced operational cost and tax.
“B2B revenues were QR 5.2 billion, reflecting Ooredoo’s continued support of its business, SME and government customers. Significant revenue contributions came from data, with strong contributions from Qatar and Indonesia resulting in data revenue reaching 47 percent to QR 14.2 billion, further confirming the success of the Group’s development and growth strategy.”
