Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 30 | Page 12

NEWS Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications hosts e-commerce forum Q atar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) has announced comprehensive guidelines for e-commerce in the country as part of a groundbreaking model to be followed across the region. Speaking at the E-Commerce Forum Qatar 2018, which was organised by the ministry, the Minister of Transport and Communications, HE Jassim bin Saif al Sulaiti said the guidelines will help merchants through all touchpoints involved in starting and implementing a successful e-commerce business. The guidelines are the result of a collaborative effort between local, regional and international stakeholders across the entire e-commerce value chain, from product creation to consumer receipt. The minister said: “Our local system needs to rise to the challenge and provide the range of services required to drive e-commerce and take advantage of the potential for the state and invest it to the maximum extent possible. “We are seeing increasing numbers of companies seeking to provide e-commerce domestically, with strong performance, especially in the service sector, and the pace is growing as private car transport, food delivery and local transport services become easier and more efficient.” The value of the country’s e-commerce market is expected to triple by 2022 as more companies in Qatar adapt to digital technology, he said. ////////////////// Nokia lands Ooredoo Qatar network expansion deal N okia has announced a three-year deal with Ooredoo Qatar to expand its mobile network across the whole country. The deal builds on an existing relationship through which Nokia has provided LTE-A carrier aggregation technology for the Qatar capital, Doha, claiming that has delivered a maximum of 375 Mbps mobile broadband download speeds. The expansion deal covers the full spectrum of mobile technologies from 2G to LTE-A, with the resulting network marketed under Ooredoo’s Supernet brand. Ooredoo Qatar Chief Exec, Waleed Al- Sayed, said: “We continue to enhance the Ooredoo Supernet to deliver the best possible Internet experience, working with a range of international technology leaders such as Nokia. By deploying these cutting-edge technologies from Nokia, we will continue to actively boost network 12 INTELLIGENTCIO performance from 2G through to LTE-A, and deliver a host of social, financial and business benefits for Qatar.” Nokia Middle East boss, Bernard Najm, said: “This is another important development in our relationship with Ooredoo Qatar, and we continue the successful deployment of LTE technology across the country. Our mobile broadband technology allows service providers to keep pace with fast- growing customer data demands now and into the future.” Ooredoo has also announced the launch of its Business Reach Mobile product in Oman. www.intelligentcio.com