.qtel

Status:	Proposed
Registry Provider:	CentralNic
Type:	Brand TLD
Priority #:	1640 - Qatar Telecom (Qtel)
More information:

.qtel is a Brand TLD being proposed in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The applicant is Qatar Telecom (Qtel).

Application Details

The following is excerpted from the applicant's response to question #18:

"atar Telecom (Qtel) has chosen to apply for the TLD to promote awareness of its services and products and facilitate the digital growth and physical expansion of the Qtel brand. The TLD will control and protect the Qtel brand by providing an official digital hub for consumers worldwide as well as foster consumer trust by creating a secure and technically stable zone. Qtel’s goal is to be among the top 20 telecommunications companies in the world by 2020, and it actively pursues a program of expansion and consolidation to bring improved service and choice to customers across the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and South East Asia. The deployment of the TLD across this region as the Qtel brand expands will therefore contribute to ICANNʹs commitment to innovation, consumer protection, security, and stability across new markets. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, Qtel currently has a presence in 17 countries (Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Kuwait, Pakistan, the Maldives, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia) and has a customer base in excess of 83 million. Qtel has a strong vision and strategy to offer consumer mobile, broadband, and corporate managed services to customers across its coverage area. The company actively seeks entry in developing or emerging markets, bringing a level of service and previously unknown product offerings to consumers. In this regard, Qtel’s expansion program directly mirrors ICANN’s commitment to the extension of choice and the promotion of secure and stable technology across new and emerging markets. Qtel was incorporated in 1987 and listed on the Qatar Exchange in 1998. The Qatari government provides direct and indirect strategic backing, fuelling the growth and expansion of the company. Within Qatar, Qtel is a full service telecommunications provider offering a suite of mobile, fixed line, broadband, and digital entertainment (television) services. The Qatar operation has 2,000 employees and is one of the largest publicly traded companies in the country, with listings in several other international exchanges (including the London Stock Exchange or LSE). Qtel is a multi-award winning organization, and it has received recognition and accolades from industry organizations and counterparts in every field – from the business as a whole (Best Telecom Deal, Best Company for Investor Relations in Qatar, Telecommunications Company of the Year) to innovation in products and services (Best Brand award for the Nojoom Loyalty Program). Qtel has won the Gulf Excellence Award (2005) and the GCC Economic Award (2006) among others. Qtel shares ICANNʹs commitment to consumer empowerment, innovation, and competition. One noted example is the company’s significant investment in next generation digital media and entertainment services and best in value-added telecommunications services which are at the forefront of developing Qatar’s knowledge-based economy. Qtel has additionally introduced next generation services such as LTE, WiMAX, and fibre optic (high speed Internet) connections across Qatar and in various emerging markets. It also launched many innovative services designed to improve customer experience, including “Backstage” (a music download service for mobile phones and PCs that gives music fans unlimited access to their favourite music in Qatar and other markets across the Qtel Group), Instant Top-Up, Skype, and Twitter Mobile across the MENA region. In addition to its commitment to technology and its consumers, Qtel takes its mission of corporate social responsibility very seriously. Qtel’s “Triple P” approach – whereby People and the Planet are as highly valued as Profit – ensures that the company provides material and social support for community groups and charities as well as promotes environmental causes. Qtel actively engages in projects promoting education, healthcare, the environment, social welfare, and sport within Qatar and across the company’s markets in an ongoing mission to help enhance all aspects of society. Innovative initiatives such as the e-Waste Recycling Program and charity auctions of “easy-to-remember” mobile numbers visibly demonstrate Qtel’s commitment to people and the planet. Qtel was presented with the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the CEO Middle East Awards (2009 and 2011) in recognition of its efforts toward continued support of CSR activity in Qatar and the extension of CSR strategy into international markets. The TLD will provide a digital home for information about all the previously-mentioned services as well as facilitate the future expansion of Qtel’s web and market presence. The Qtel Group strategy focuses on customer experience, broadband, and new growth opportunities, and its corporate mission requires it to actively expand, bringing unprecedented service levels and innovation to new consumers. The launch of the TLD falls squarely within this mission and will allow Qtel to achieve its goals of innovation, outreach, growth, and learning while reinforcing its credibility and reputation for technical stability, security, and excellence. Qtel will retain domains for internal use, educating consumers about the Qtel brand as it expands globally. As new companies across Qtel’s target region join the Qtel Group, their digital presence and web addresses will be absorbed into the TLD – ensuring not only the promotion of the Qtel brand but also the effective organization of the Group’s domain name structure and the technical security and stability of its Internet presence. The TLD will allow Qtel to continue innovating and bringing new products to an emerging consumer base without compromise and achieve its corporate goals of increasing productivity, standing out from the competition, growing B2B and IT services, and exploring new opportunities such as TV, finance, and health."

Top-Level Domain