Qtel and the Qatari Telecommunications sector have witnessed many exciting milestones.

Here is a quick overview of their evolution since 1949 until now:

2010

• Qtel Wins Five Awards at Contact Centre World MENA, including Gold Award for Best Customer Service.

• Qtel receives “Recognized for Excellence Award” from EFQM.

• Qtel Takes the Lead in Delivering microSIMs for Qatar.

• Qtel Wins “Best Corporate Bond in EMEA” Award.

• Qtel and Virgin Group launch Virgin Mobile Qatar.

• Qtel Launches Supercharged “Business ADSL”

• Qtel and GBI Sign Major Agreement for New International Gateway for Qatar.

• Qtel Set to Hit 50,000 Mobile Broadband Customers Milestone.

• Qtel Wins Three Awards at TMT Finance.

• Qtel Launches My-Fi Personal 3G Mobile Hot Spot Device.

• Fahad Bin Jassim Kidney Centre Opens to the Public.

• Qtel and Tata Communications Collaborate on Strategic Gulf Cable Project.

• Qtel Allocates QR600 Million for First Phase of Fibre-to-the-Home Project.

• The Qtel Group to Launch Mobile Money Services across its Global Footprints.

• MEF and The Qtel Group to Establish Mobile Media Innovation Hub for the MENA Region.

• Qtel launches Hala BlackBerry.

• Energy City Qatar Signs Agreement with Qtel to Operate World-Class Data Centre for Energy Sector.

• Qtel Upgrades 3G Network to Support World Class Internet Speeds.

2009

• Qtel Wins twin awards at CommsMEA Awards.

• Qtel Named as Best Company for Investor Relations in Qatar.

• Qtel Signs Major Cable Agreement with Tata Communications.

• Launch of New Network Systems Bring New Era of Communication for Indonesia.

• Qtel Wins Corporate Treasury Deal of the Year 2009 in Middle East.

• Qtel Wins "Corporate Social Responsibility" Recognition at CEO Middle East Awards 2009.

• Qtel Launches Mobile Internet Packs for Qatar .

• Qtel Wins Gold in International Call Centre Contest.

• Qtel Reaches Two Millionth Customer Milestone.

• Qtel launches two new speed plans for Qtel’s ADSL service- 4Mbps and 8Mbps.

• Qtel’s introduces  SmartRoamer service.

• Qtel and Tata Communications Collaborate to Offer Global Connectivity Services.

• Qtel Launches BlackBerry Global Package.

• Qtel Unveils “Nojoom”- New Rewards Programme.

• Qtel won the Arab e-Content Award in e-Business category.

• Qtel Opens Singapore Office.

• Qtel Doubles Qatar’s Broadband Speeds – for Free!.

• Qtel Opens Latest and Largest Concept Stores at Al Khor

• Launched new ‘BillXpress’ for corporate clients.

• Qtel Opens Concept store Opens at Salwa road.

• Qtel Opens17th Service Center  at Hyatt Plaza.

• Qtel Wins Double at the TMT Finance and Investment Middle East Awards.

• Qtel Opens Major New Service Centre at Landmark Mall.

• Launched BlackBerry Curve 8900 Smartphone.

• Launched Unlimited Mobile Broadband Service.

• Qtel Successfully Secures USD 1.5 Billion Credit Facility.

• Qtel Reaches 1.8 Million Mobile Customers in Qatar.

• Qtel Successfully Concludes INDOSAT Tender Offers.

• Implementation of free Wi-Fi Internet access at popular local market Souq Waqif . 

• The Qtel Group selected as board member of Mobile Entertainment Forum (EMEA Chapter).

• Qtel Launches BlackBerry Internet Service – Personal Edition .

2008

• Qtel and Reliance Globalcom Sign Strategic Network Partnership.

• Qtel launches the All-New “Shahry” service to its mobile customers Delighted.

• Qtel Wins “Telecoms Deal of the Year” Award for Indosat Investment .

• Qtel Celebrates 1.5 Million Mobile Customers in Qatar.

• Qtel Sports Fans Wowed by New Mozaic Sports channel package.

• Qatar offers “Region’s Best Broadband Pricess.

• Qtel becomes Official Communications Partner for Qatar’s Museum of Islamic Art.

• Qtel Introduces new 128K SIM card with enhanced features.

• Qtel revenues hit record QR 14.27 bn registering 107% YoY growth.

• Indonesian authorities have clarified that Qtel’s ownership of shares in Indosat will be permitted up to 65 per cent.

• Announcing Qtel and Qatar Airways Long-Term Technology Partnership.

• Qtel Unveiled as Sponsor for AFC Asian Cup and Asian Champions League.

• Launching entirely new & exciting HALA Pay As You Talk service.

• Qtel Announced as Official Telecommunications Partner for 19th Gulf Cup.

• Announcing a new number range that begins with the digit “3” for the first time in Qatar.

• Qtel Enters the Guinness World Records for selling the world's most expensive mobile phone number.

• Wataniya Palestine (WPT) allocated spectrum to start operations of its mobile network.

• Qatar Telecom to acquire interest in PT Indosat Tbk (Indosat) from Asia Mobile Holding Pte Ltd (AMH).

• Hala Call Back Roaming Introduced.

• Qtel launches "Office in a Box".

• Launched "Insight Qatar"- a simple to use directory.

• Qtel launches Ring Back tones.

• Qtel introduces – Qatar Airways (Qmiles) Program.

• Launch of SMS roaming for prepaid subscribers.

• Launched Mobile Broadband service.

• Launch of "Electronic voucher system" for purchasing prepaid e-vouchers.

• Qtel Launched a new service - "Mozaic SMS Chat".

• Free "Call Me Back".

• Qtel and RIM launch the BlackBerry solution in Qatar.

 2007

• Qtel Launched a new service- "Hala SMS Roaming".

• Qtel as part of Asiacell Consortium successful in bid for Iraq GSM license.

• Qtel launches "CNN World News Now service" on Mozaic MOB.

• Launch of the new Mobile Email service- Personal Edition.

• Launch Of "breaking news SMS alerts" from Nepal & Bangladesh.

• Introduced "Friends and Family" service-25% discount on international calls.

• Qtel and the Abdullah Abdulghani Sons Group of Companies signed Memorandum of Understanding to provide Smart Solutions for Property Development in Qatar.

• Launched Asian Breaking News SMS Alerts service on mozaic MOB.

• Launched "Yearly Subscription" Option.

• Qtel introduced  New Hala Feature- "Validity and Credit Notification".

• Qtel launched Mozaic Video Breaking News.

• Qtel launches world class entertainment platform - MOZAIC

• Securities & Commodities Authority rewards Qtel.

• Qtel Closes Qatar?s Largest Revolving Credit Facility advised by QNB.

• $3.8 billion Wataniya acquisition - Largest Telecom Deal in the Arab World.

• ST Telemedia and Qtel Form Strategic Alliance to Expand in the Asia-Pacific Region.

• Qtel becomes first Telco in the region to be ICDL accredited.

• Qtel Customer Service launches new facility- Electronic Payment and Top-up Service machines.

• Introduced Residential Package that provides three services in one offer.

2006

• Launch of 3G.

• Equity partnership with AT&T in NavLink.

• Qtel Signs Ubiquitous Cities' (U-City) MOU with Korea Telecom.  

• Qtel announces opening of 'highest-in-class' Internet Data Center.

• 15th Asian Games hailed a great success - Launch of DVB-H.

• Launch of 'Triple Play'

• Qtel launched international high-speed mobile data (GPRS) roaming services.

• Qtel launched the IP (Internet Protocol). Telephony services.

• Qtel partnered with Siemens Communications to sponsor a functional 3G Wireless Telecommunications Laboratory at the College of the North     Atlantic at Qatar.

• Qtel formed alliances with the Seoul National University (SNU) and the Information and Communication University (ICU), offering scholarships for   higher   studies to deserving Qtel employees at their campuses in Korea.

• Launch of Qtel's corporate Campaign "Let's Connect".

• Qtel launched the first third generation (3G) multimedia service '3G Video Calling' on its new 3G mobile phone network.

• Launch of Mobile Internet service.

• Launch of Asian Games Mobile Portal. 

• Qtel tied up with Humansoft to provide a state-of-the-art online training program. - Qtel wins GCC Economic Award. - Qtel wins global GIS award   for the second time .

• Conducted Connecting Leaders Conference.  

• Qtel raised over QR1.16 million through ETR mobile phone numbers auction for charities.

• Qtel donated QR500,000 to support the Lebanese people, with an additional sum of QR 200,000 to the Lebanese Society for Children with special   needs. Qtel had also waived incoming and outgoing roaming call charges in addition to SMS messaging to and from Lebanon during the war that   took place in that year.

• Qtel sponsored the 5th Annual Free Medical Camp for low-income expatriates .

• Qtel opened its 17th Customer Service Center at the Qatar Foundation complex .

• Qtel's state-of-the-art headquarters in West Bay inaugurated officially.

• Qtel unveiled a new look and feel to its corporate website.

2005

• Official opening of Nawras, Qtel's subsidiary in the Sultanate of Oman.

• Launch of first terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) network in Middle East.

• Launch of state-of-the-art Remote Locations services (Wireless Local Loop)

• Qtel and Cisco Systems cement long term partnership to build 'Broadband Country' at Gigabit speed.

• Launch of WiFi (Qtel hotspot) service.

• Qtel opens new Customer Service Centre at Mesaieed

• Awarded the Gulf Excellence Award for Performance Management.

2004

• Muzdawaj, Qtel's duplicate SIM card service, launched.

• Arabic version of Qchat launched.

• Internet roaming services introduced for dial-up customers.

• MMS technology introduced to Qatar.- Qtel Participates in consortium.

• Nawras Telecom - and wins the tender for the second mobile license in the Sultanate of Oman.

• Networking technology MPLS-based IP VPN for business networking launched.

• Awarded first Internet root (K.root) server for the Middle East.

• Freedom Portal for mobile customers launched.

2003

• Reorganization program, 'Q-turn', launched.

• Qtel's first one-stop-shop Customer Service Centre opens in Doha's City Centre Mall.

• Qtel's first Customer Service Kiosk opens at Doha's Landmark Mall.

• Qtel's second high-speed ADSL Internet service, 'Barq-Gold', launched.

• 'SMS Business' and 'SMS Corporate' Qtel's mobile marketing and integration services launched.

• GPRS technology service 'Mobinet' introduced.

2002

• Qtel listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange.

• Broadband Internet (ADSL high speed Internet access) launched across Qatar.

• Qtel announces its reorganization program, 'Q-Turn'.

2001

•  Qtel listed on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange.

2000

• ISO 9001 Certification Awarded.

• Qatar Cablevision (QCV) service, based on MVDS Technology, launched.

• Launching of the pre-paid GSM service, Hala.

1999

•  Qtel listed on the London Stock Exchange.

1998

• Qatar Public Telecommunications Corporation transformed into Qatar Telecom (Qtel) QSC.

• Third International Digital Exchange Commissioned.

1996

•  Internet Qatar Services introduced.

• High Speed 'FLEX' Paging Service launched.

1994

• GSM Mobile Telephony Service (Qatarnet) inaugurated.

• Trunk Mobile Radio (TMR) Service introduced.

1993

• Qatar Cablevision (QCV) launched.

1992

• 100% digitalization of National Exchange Network.

1991

• First Public Payphone commissioned.

• Nationwide Paging Service introduced.

1987

• Q-Tel established under Law No. 13 of 1987.

1986

• Arabsat Satellite Earth Station commissioned

1985

• Second Earth Station commissioned.

1982

• Analogue Mobile automated Telephone Service (MATS) started.

1976

• Doha Earth Station commissioned.

1973

• Telecommunications Department established within the Ministry of Communications and Transport.

1970

• National Telephony Services operated by Qatar National Telephone Service (QVTS) and International Services by Cable and Wireless.

1953

• Inauguration of Public Telephone Service with capacity of 150 lines.

1949

• First Telephone Exchange in Doha with capacity of 50 lines.