MUSCAT: Telecommunication service provider Nawras yesterday announced the launch of an exciting portfolio of fixed residential services — home broadband and voice — thereby ending the four-decade-long monopoly of majority state-owned Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) in this field. The new service will be available across the Sultanate from Tuesday, 2010, Ross Cormack, Chief Executive Officer of Nawras told reporters.

Cormack said 54 per cent of households have coverage through the first WiMAX technology network in Oman, and this will grow quickly to reach over 80 per cent of households during 2011.

Saying that an extensive market survey was conducted by the company to find the requirement of potential customers in different age groups, Cormack noted that his company looks forward to changing the telecom landscape in Oman once again.

As far as the tariff is concerned, postpaid packages start from RO15 per month including a 6 GB data allowance with up to 1 Mb/s downlink speed, spend capping to control broadband Internet budgets, and a free-of-charge telephone connection with no extra line charges — the latter being an innovation and a Nawras first. Customers also benefit from a number of other flexible options and price plans including a prepaid service package.

Starting at RO5 per week, prepaid customers can enjoy a 2 GB data allowance with up to 1 Mb/s downlink speed, or can choose a monthly plan with the same prices and benefits as the postpaid options. Customers who sign up now for either a postpaid or prepaid package will receive free double data allowances plus 50 per cent off on Nawras broadband modems until October 13 as part of the launch promotion.

“Every customer is unique in what they want and expect from their communications provider, which is why we are giving them flexibility with a range of plans that meet individual needs,” adds Cormack. “As Nawras comes home, we remain committed to enhancing customers’ daily lives by creating an excellent, caring and pleasingly different customer experience.”

The Nawras voice packages also offer customers a wide range of services. Customers can benefit from the transparent and affordable home voice prices or select NawrasTalk, which offers bundled minutes at a very attractive price to any other Nawras fixed or mobile customer. Even better, with NawrasTalk calls between Nawras fixed customers will be free until October 13 as part of the launch promotion.

The plug and play simplicity of the Nawras broadband and voice packages allows customers to set up Internet access within minutes, and Nawras has made it easy for customers to buy, use, pay and get help. Customers can simply walk into any Nawras store or selected Nawras premium dealer, register for the service, buy a modem, take it home, connect it to a laptop or desktop computer, enter their username and password, and then start surfing. Nawras has even posted coverage maps on its website so that customers can see exactly what kinds of services are covered within their town or village.

Cormack noted that the broadband penetration level in Oman is relatively modest at 20 per cent.

“Our friendly professionals work hard to ensure that customers enjoy the highest level of product performance, simplicity and after-sales support,” said Khalid Al Mahmoud, Nawras COO.

The launch of the fixed residential services marks Nawras’ final step into becoming the Sultanate’s full service provider — offering customers a one-stop shop meeting all their telecom needs whether in the office or at home, mobile or fixed, broadband or voice. From surfing the web to international phone calls, customers can look forward to enjoying the same innovation and customer focus that they have already seen delivered by Nawras mobile services.



...launches VoIP too





Times News Service



MUSCAT: With the Nawras fixed telephone connection — provided free with every broadband connection — customers enjoy even better international call rates with the option of a unique voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service.

This service gives further discounts to six destinations — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

The first residential service of its kind in Oman, Nawras VoIP is automatically included with the Nawras Home Broadband and Voice packages and simply involves dialling ‘0902’ before a number to switch the phone call to VoIP for that call, for example, by dialling 0902 91 plus the number for calls to India.

Nawras VoIP offers the most attractive call rates to these six Asian destinations when compared to any other player in the Omani telecom market. Nawras will see the growth in demand for this service and will conduct market studies to find other countries to be included in VoIP service, an official said.