Covid-19 has sent a clear message to the global telecommunications sector: a resilient internet with sufficient bandwidth to meet an explosion of data needs, is a must. 
Qatar is among the countries whose wireless and fixed networks are holding up well against massive spikes in demand and allowing the use of emerging technologies for remote work and study. 
Being a digitally advanced nation, data usage and the proportion of “high bandwidth” being used have been rising long before the pandemic outbreak, and Qatar has had the foresight to make full-fibre broadband a major priority. Distinguished by its near unlimited bandwidth capacity, enhanced speeds and compatibility with other technologies, including 5G requirements, fibre has the ability to grow and adapt to our future communication needs. 
To date, Vodafone Qatar has made significant progress in providing fibre connectivity to residents and businesses in The Pearl, Lusail City, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Education City, West Bay, Wukair, Industrial area, Al Sadd and Al Waab among other areas, and roll-out is expanding. 
The latest generation fibre capabilities - GigaNet fibre - would be hugely advantageous to residents relying heavily on connectivity for remote work and study, and also entertainment while stay-at-home orders are in place. Premium fixed services from ‘GigaHome’, Vodafone’s robust broadband solution, can boost the quality of data-intensive digital choices like video conferencing, streaming and gaming, and virtual learning. 
New solutions from the fibre market such as “triple play services” combining voice, high-speed internet and multimedia over IP, enable access to HDTV, premium content and video on demand in a more cost-effective manner. 
For businesses managing their digital demands, GigaNet fibre powers solutions that can help them navigate current operational challenges – from where their remote teams work to how they can deliver services - and still advance innovation. 
Voice, video and data are indispensable day-to-day tools now and as more businesses migrate to cloud-based solutions for remote operations, fibre broadband speeds offer the scalability and reliability they need to leverage those solutions to increase productivity and improve competency in the markets. The growing SME and small-office home-office (SOHO) sector can count on value-added services and tools offered by Vodafone Qatar as part of their broadband plans to enhance their online presence.
Other sectors, including education, healthcare, retail and banking, are increasingly dependent on real-time high-bandwidth applications to deliver services in-home to consumers, which demand the speeds and reliability of a fibre network.
The long-term benefits of GigaNet fibre deployment for Qatar’s economy and society are limitless. Fibre roll-out has given thousands of workers in Barwa Labour City access to Vodafone’s fixed services to provide for the digital needs of the labour worker community.
This is only the start of how the reliability and performance of Vodafone’s full-fibre infrastructure can raise the country’s digital capabilities under the Qatar National Vision 2030. Beyond just being a superior technology, fibre is important as a backbone infrastructure for 5G, with opportunities such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data applications and other aspects of future smart cities.
As Vodafone Qatar continuously innovates with unique services to suit different customer’s needs, both residential and business consumers now have more choice to access these tailored services and keep their number, with fixed number portability (FNP). 
While taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of their engineering teams and that of the community, Vodafone Qatar is continuing to roll out its high-speed fibre network, the crucial infrastructure to keep the country at the forefront of digital connectivity.


About Vodafone Qatar PQSC

Vodafone Qatar PQSC (“Vodafone Qatar”) provides a comprehensive range of services including voice, messaging, data, fixed communications, IoT and ICT managed services in the State of Qatar, for both consumers and businesses alike. The Company commenced commercial operations in 2009 and has 1.73mn mobile customers as of 31 March 2020. Its state-of-the-art network infrastructure is expanding to cover key locations in the country with fibre connectivity and 5G, along with an extensive digital ecosystem, which will contribute to Qatar’s continued growth and prosperity.  Vodafone Qatar’s vision is deeply rooted in its mission to connect today’s ideas with the technologies of tomorrow by pioneering digital innovation and becoming people’s first choice in telecom and digital services. Please visit www.vodafone.qa for more details.