Ooredoo’s launch of the world’s first commercial 5G network is its “biggest and most globally prominent” achievement in 2018, the telecommunications company has announced in a statement.
“This significant step towards the life-changing technology being made widely available was swiftly followed by the rapid rollout of network tower installation, network testing in the Qatari desert, and the arrival of the world’s first home broadband devices for testing, which showed the phenomenal speeds available. 
“Further testing of the breath-taking potential of 5G came at an event dedicated to the technology at The Pearl, Doha, where Ooredoo Qatar displayed several smart cities solutions and applications that will be available in Qatar,” Ooredoo said.
Ooredoo said innovative, life-changing technologies, including a driverless aerial taxi, connected yacht, 5G services in moving vehicles, and an 8K virtual reality experience were all demonstrated, allowing a glimpse into the technology of the future. 
On mobile communications, Ooredoo Qatar was the first operator in the country – and one of only a few regionally – to launch the eSIM, offering customers a seamless mobile telecoms experience. 
eSIM technology allows mobile phones to work without a traditional SIM card, enabling the user to switch between several lines easily without having to physically remove and reinsert a SIM. 
Significant progress was also made in home connectivity when Ooredoo Qatar confirmed more than 400,000 homes were connected to its fibre network, a milestone achieved in November 2018 that strengthened the company’s position as a leading telecommunications company and reinforced Qatar’s vision of becoming one of the world’s best-connected countries. 
Ooredoo’s fibre network offers customers a leading experience with advanced features, including high-speed internet access of up to 10Gbps – the world’s highest speed and only available in 10 countries worldwide, according to an Arthur D Little report – as well as high-definition audio services and quality 4K entertainment with Ooredoo tv, recognised as the most popular entertainment service in Qatar.
The Arthur D Little report also noted that 99% of homes in Qatar are now covered by fibre-optic networks, a double increase against that of 2012 and comparable only to Singapore, Latvia, and Lithuania. Eighty eight percent of Qatari homes are now connected, the highest in the world alongside Singapore. 
Ooredoo Qatar’s partnership with Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) continued through the ‘Digital and Beyond’ incubator, managed by Ooredoo, which provides support and sponsorship to a number of start-ups offering different services based on technology and communications. 
Ooredoo Nojoom, one of Qatar’s most rewarding loyalty programmes, added another 28 partners to the list of top companies already present in the portfolio. Nojoom now encompasses more than 250 of the best brands in Qatar and has run several successful campaigns to boost the earning and using of points during the course of the year.
Ooredoo Mobile Money has become one of the most popular mobile financial products in the country with Ooredoo customers enjoying the benefits of electronic payroll, mobile wallet, and digital remittance services, all combined into a simple mobile app.  
More than QR3bn worth of salaries were paid to Ooredoo Mobile Money customers in 2018 and several of the country’s leading exchange houses have been integrated in order to provide customers with more choice and even better exchange rates.   
Ooredoo Mobile Money gives all customers the ability to save time by using the Ooredoo Mobile Money app instead of waiting in long queues to send their money home.
In line with Ooredoo Qatar’s commitment to supporting the local community, 2018 saw the company continue its support for many health initiatives and projects, including the Fahad Bin Jassem Kidney Centre, the Ooredoo Cancer Awareness Centre, and many others.
Ooredoo said it is always on the forefront of promoting a healthy lifestyle, physical activity, and social responsibility. The 2018 Doha Ooredoo Marathon was the biggest yet, with the participation of a number of the world’s greatest runners, including Sir Mo Farah, winner of an Olympic gold medal in 2016. Final preparations are underway for the 2019 event, set to be held imminently. 
Ooredoo said its innovative and ‘first-to-Qatar’ advertising and promotions were also a huge hit in 2018. The Ooredoo ‘High 5’ video and the subsequent fan-created videos proved to be tremendously popular with Qatar nationals and residents.  
The Ooredoo National Day video and accompanying Augmented Reality promotion caused industry excitement all over the world, with record numbers of customers enjoying the experience, sharing it with their friends and family and joining Ooredoo in celebrating a very special day.
“Some of the biggest changes brought to Qatar in 2018 were around our digital experience and thinking digitally. Enhancements to our mobile apps, retail experience and internal procedures have all led to a dramatic reduction in our environmental impact, an increase in customer satisfaction through being able to support and activate Ooredoo Customers more quickly and efficiently, and most importantly the arrival of real innovation to Qatar. Chat support in the Ooredoo app has proven to be highly-popular with customers, as have the Ooredoo promotions available to users of our app,” Ooredoo said.
Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, Director PR and Corporate Communications at Ooredoo, said, “As is evident with the impressive roster of achievements, 2018 has been a memorable year for Ooredoo Qatar: world-first milestones, industry recognition, and significant steps on the road to digital transformation. 
“In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, Ooredoo has made considerable contributions to the development of ICT in Qatar, raising the profile of the country and leveraging both resources and intellectual potential to ensure impressive progress. We are proud to be an integral part of the digital revolution in Qatar and look forward to another successful year in 2019.”