Vodafone Qatar CEO Kyle Whitehill delivers a speech at the Distinguished Speaker Series hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar.

 

Vodafone Qatar CEO Kyle Whitehill said the liberalisation of Qatar’s telecommunications sector has been yielding benefits, particularly for its consumers and other businesses in Qatar.
Speaking at the Distinguished Speaker Series hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar (AmCham Qatar) yesterday, Whitehill said Vodafone’s clientele base here has reaped liberalisation benefits “in a relatively short period of time.”
In addition to offering choice, Whitehill noted that prices for mobile services “dropped sharply upon Vodafone’s arrival in the marketplace.”
“Until now, international calling rates have fallen by up to 92% when compared to the same rates before Vodafone Qatar’s entry to the market. In addition, local calling rates have dropped by almost 82% since Vodafone Qatar started its operations. Data rates have tremendously declined by around 99% in the same period of time,” he stressed. Whitehill noted that Qatar had taken serious steps to ensure a liberalised market in general, and a liberalised telecommunications industry, in particular.
He added that the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology’s (ictQATAR) strategy was designed to constantly review and simplify procedures, protect consumers, and encourage a world-class digital atmosphere.
“Our aim is to support all aspects of national economic, human and social development, in alignment with the ministry’s regulatory strategy and Qatar’s National Development Strategy,” he said.
He added: “As part of its long term strategy, Vodafone Qatar is committed to supporting ictQATAR in delivering the National Broadband Plan and bringing the benefits of choice to the fixed market in Qatar.”
AmCham Qatar chairman Robert A Hager said: “The American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar continues to be a powerful platform for business leaders to discuss the latest industry trends and news, as Qatar looks to realise its economic vision for the future.
“We are pleased to have Mr Whitehill join us and have learned a great deal from Vodafone Qatar’s story and his deep insights into a growing and strategically critical sector.”
Hager also announced that USA Week will take place in February where American business partners will present to their Qatari counterparts the best ways of doing business in the US. The full week of events and meetings will bring together different Qatari and US stakeholders and will culminate with a traditional American culinary delight, an authentic “Chilli Cook Off.”
More information on AmCham Qatar events is available on
http://www.amchamqatar.org/index.php/blog/pages/upcoming-events. Follow @AmChamQatar on Twitter for the latest updates.

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