Wataniya Telecom Leading Telecom in Kuwait

 About Wataniya 

Profile

Wataniya Telecom was commercially launched in 1999 as the first privately owned telecommunications operator in Kuwait. In March 2007, the Qatar Telecom group acquired fifty-one percent of Wataniya Telecom (NMTC). NMTC is listed in the Kuwait Stock Exchange and is the legal entity owner of shares in Wataniya Maldives, Bravo, Tunisiana, Nedjma and Wataniya Palestine. Wataniya is a customer-driven company that aims to provide product and service excellence. The company has been a driving force in increasing the mobile market penetration in Kuwait (over 80%). Wataniya Telecom has grown rapidly through acquisitions in Kuwait, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia Maldives and Palestine.

Over the past 10 years Wataniya has risen to be the second largest operator in one of the most competitive, demanding and fast-aced mobile markets in the region.

Serving forty-two percent of the country’s mobile customers, Wataniya offers a wide range of pre-paid and post-paid mobile voice and data services to both individual and corporate customers, including Wnet, a secure wireless and mobile internet service. Wataniya also offers a suite of business efficiency tools for corporate customers under the WPro brand.

Wataniya has built its reputation on offering innovative services, maintaining excellent network quality and delivering outstanding customer experience. These three pillars remain the basis of Wataniya’s strategy as it continues to consolidate its strong market position, despite the arrival of a third mobile operator in December 2008.

Wataniya Telecom was commercially launched in 1999 as the first privately owned operator in Kuwait. In March 2007, Qatar Telecom (Qtel) acquired 51% of Wataniya Telecom shares from Kuwait Projects Company Holding KSC (KIPCO) group. 

Wataniya is a customer driven company that aims to provide product and service excellence that is leading to a real customer value… The company has been a driving force in increasing the mobile market penetration in Kuwait (over 80%) Wataniya Telecom has grown rapidly through acquisitions and enjoys a remarkable expansion in MENA & ASIA. Driving operations in Kuwait, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria and in 2007 in Palestine.

Wataniya World

Qatar Telecom

Qtel is the exclusive telecommunications provider in Qatar. Its principal activities include local and international fixed telephone, mobile, Internet, data and cable television services. Qtel is now active in 16 countries, including Qatar, Oman, Iraq, Singapore and Indonesia. In November 2006, Qtel acquired a strategic 38% equity stake with AT&T in NavLink, a leading provider of Managed Data Services to businesses in the Middle East. Qtel is a winner of the 2006 GCC Economic Award, and is listed on the Doha Securities Market, in addition to the exchanges in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and also has a listed GDR in London. Qtel (short for Qatar Telecom) used to be the exclusive telecommunications provider in Qatar and is one of the largest public companies in Qatar with about 2000 employees. It was successfully launched on the Doha Securities Market in 1998 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1999, the Bahrain Stock Exchange in 2001 and the Abu Dhabi Securities Market in 2002. Qtel is a winner of the 2005 Gulf Excellence Award and the 2006 Economic Award. In 2009, Vodafone Qatar started operating in Qatar.

Qtel also provides mobile telephone services in Oman via Nawras, a joint venture with TDC and Omani partners. Qtel is the prestige partner of, and official telecommunications provider to, the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.
In October 2006 Qtel and Korea Telecom signed a memorandum of understanding toward the two telecommunications providers working together in Qatar on infrastructure construction and IT solution delivery for what has been coined ‘Ubiquitous Cities’ (U-City).

In November 2006 Qtel announced an agreement to acquire a strategic stake in NavLink, a leading provider of managed data services to businesses in the Middle East. Qtel will hold an equity stake (38.2%) in the business, joining AT&T Inc.

In November 2006, The Emir issued Law No 34 of 2006 restructuring the administration of information and communication systems in Qatar and lifting Qtel’s monopoly; ict QATAR was announced as the new telecoms regulator.

Towards the end of 2007, Qtel announced the launching of a new company named wi-tribe. Wi-tribe is a joint venture between Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and A.A. Turki Group of Companies (ATCO) of Saudi Arabia. Through wi-tribe, Qtel plans to launch WiMAX services across Asia and Africa. The first deployment which is in Jordan is almost complete and the service will be launched end of Q2 2008. Further deployments in Pakistan, Philippines and Algeria are expected to be completed by Q3 2009.

In February 2008, Qtel announced its fourth quarter net profit fell 9.6 percent due to a one-off amortization impact associated with its March purchase of Kuwait’s Wataniya. The business now plans to sell stock to existing shareholders to raise about 5.86 billion riyals, to pay back debt and finance growth including possible acquisitions.

Wataniya in Algeria

Branded as Nedjma, Wataniya Telecom Algeria commenced operations in 2004. Starting out as Algeria’s third mobile operator, today Nedjma commands second place and controls twenty-two percent of this highly competitive North African mobile market. As one of the most instantly recognizable brands in the country-Nedjma offers value-for-money mobile voice, data and multimedia services delivered across a nation wide EDGE-ready network.

Wataniya Telecom (NMTC) holds a seventy-one percent stake in the operations of Nedjma.

Wataniya in Tunisia

From its launch in 2002 as Tunisia’s first privately owned Telecom Company, Tunisiana has grown to become not only the country’s number one operator but also one of the country’s most trusted and recognized brands. Tunisiana provides a range of pre-paid and post-paid voice and data services to more than four million individual and business customer right across the North African nation.

Wataniya Telecom (NMTC) holds a fifty percent stake in the operations of Tunisiana.

Wataniya in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Bravo launched operations in 2005 as Saudi Arabia’s first specialized push-to-talk (PTT) provider, offering PPT and cellular communication services to the business and government sectors. Bravo’s solutions are ideally suited to organizations which need to connect and manage a large number of employees or related groups in a flexible, efficient and cost-effective way. Today Bravo provides almost 150,000 customers from across 10,000 business and government institutions with mobile voice, messaging, GPS-based tracking and even data services across its iDEN-based nationwide wireless network.

Wataniya Telecom (NMTC) holds a fifty-six percent stake in the operations of Bravo.

Services

Wataniya’s Unique and Innovative Services

Wataniya Telecom has been an innovator in the field of telecom in Kuwait investing its efforts and resources to provide enhanced and services to its customers. Wataniya has excelled in delivering unique services marking it as one of the leading telecom companies in the region.

On December 4th, 2009 Wataniya Telecom turned 10 years old. As a countdown to its grand 10th anniversary, Wataniya started a season of celebrations on October 10 and launched a one of a kind campaign for the occasion.

A slogan stated “We are Just Getting Started” was introduced to the people of Kuwait promising its customers continuous surprises, offers, and the best services.

Wataniya introduced a number of products and services during its season of celebrations in which it affirmed it position as a market leader and a dedicated company to provide the latest and most up to date services to its post paid and prepaid customers.

Wataniya’s 10 achievements over the past 10 years

Over the past 10 years, Wataniya had numerous accomplishments and successes that led to shaping the

telecom industry in Kuwait:

1999 – 1st Privately Owned Telecom Operator

2000 – 1st to Launch Pre-paid

2001–1st to Mobile Entertainment

2002–1st Kuwaiti Operator to Expand Regionally

2003–1st to Launch Music news service

2004 –1st to Upgrade Network to International Standards

2005 – Wataniya launches Prepaid Roaming

2006 – Wataniya Telecom challenges traditional internet service provisioned by introducing high speed internet access service

2007-1ST to 1st Telecom operator to be listed by Forbes as one of the top 50 brands regionally.

2008 – Wataniya Telecom Empowers Customers with the ability to communicate from the Sky with In-Flight Roaming Service

2009 – The first operator to introduce “international Top up” Service and the Blackberry Prepaid service.

Wataniya’s Promises

To ensure remaining as a company with an advanced network, innovative products and a being a pioneer in delivering outstanding customer service, Wataniya gave its customers 10 promises and guaranteed to abide by them in the upcoming years: Innovation, Technology, Style, Creativity, Continuity, Exclusivity, Originality, Inspiration, Transparency, communication and youth. Upon delivering those promises, Wataniya will continue rising to standards beyond customer’s expectations and maintaining its leading position in the market.

Benefiting the Community

Wataniya Telecom is committed to its key role in enhancing the community and taking major role in creating a level of awareness among the society and youth. Since its establishment, Wataniya has continuously been involved in projects and campaigns aiming to guide the youth of Kuwait, motivate them and support them in every step needed. Wataniya has played a major role in advocating positive change and lending support to all different segments of the society of various fields.

The company strongly believes that participating in a variety of community-oriented programs aim at improving the quality of life and the prosperity of the societies it serves. The management and staff of Wataniya Telecom recognize their social obligations to invest in the development and future prosperity of the communities which it serves. Ranging from social to cultural to sports programs, Wataniya evidently has left its footprints in each and will continue to invest of its efforts in the upcoming years.