Qtel received the ‘telecom company of the year’ award at the Arabian Business Qatar Awards 2011 this week, in recognition of the company’s contribution to Qatar’s National Strategy for building a knowledge-based economy with its QR600mn investment in fibre technology. The award ceremony, which was attended by numerous CEOs and executives of Qatar’s top businesses, was held earlier in the week at the Four Seasons Hotel.The award committee recognised Qtel for its far-reaching initiative, Qtel Fibre, which will provide high-speed Internet to homes and businesses across Qatar, with customers already beginning to make the switch to fibre. In recent months, Qtel field teams have laid out more than 1,200km of fibre cable throughout Doha, with the goal of connecting more than 60,000 homes with the fastest-ever Internet experience, as well as high definition television through Qtel Mozaic TV. “We are grateful for this recognition of our two-year effort to bring new standards in speed, as well as clarity of image and sound, to broadband-fuelled entertainment and educational experiences in Qatar,” said Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani, Qtel (Qatar) CEO. “We are always looking for ways to improve our products and services while offering the people of Qatar good value. We greatly appreciate this award and that we are in such good company here tonight with all of these very accomplished businesses,” he added. Qtel was also commended for its efforts to respond to customer concerns, and improve the standards of customer service and network quality throughout Qatar. Qtel was one of the 17 award winners named by Arabian Business magazine in their annual awards programme. Qtel employee Buthaina al-Ansari was also cited as ‘Businesswoman of the year’, for her entrepreneurial company, Qatariat, with publishing, training and development, and consulting branches.