Q.NBN holds first meeting

The Board of Directors of Qatar National Broadband Network Company  has held its first meeting chaired by HE Sheikh Jassem Bin Abdulaziz bin Jassem Al Thani, Minister of Business and Trade and membership of Hassan Al Sayed, Assistant Secretary General for the Government Programs - ictQatar, Nasser Ali Al-Molawi, Managing Director of Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Hamad Al-Mannai, Minister of Business and Trade's Office Manager and Abdulla Bin Abdulaziz Turki Al-Subaie, the Barwa Group Chief Executive Officer. Earlier December last year, the Board of Directors of the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQatar), chaired by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, issued decision appointing HE Sheikh Jassem Bin Abdulaziz bin Jassem Al Thani, Minister of Business and Trade as Q.NBN's Board Chairman. The decision also stipulated that board of directors include representatives from the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, ictQatar, Ministry of Business and Trade, and Real Estate Development Sector. "The establishment of Qatar National Broadband Network Company with the mandate to build a nationwide high-speed fiber optics network is crucial to the development of business, economic growth, innovation and enhanced services to all citizens and residents.  It should transform the way we live and work.  And I am confident that we will receive the utmost cooperation possible from all parties concerned to achieve the network rollout as planned", said HE Sheikh Jassem bin Abdulaziz bin Jassem Al Thani, Q.NBN's Board Chairman. During the meeting, Mohamed Ali Al-Mannai, Q.NBN's CEO, presented the overall company strategy and its role in supporting Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar's National ICT Plan 2015 by enhancing the national ICT infrastructure.  He also explained the company business plan for the coming three years to achieve the company target of 95% coverage of households and 100% coverage of businesses by 2015. Q.NBN is a private shareholding company 100% owned by the State of Qatar and subject to provisions of Article 68 of Law No. 5 for the year 2002. Q.NBN operates within the existing laws and under the authorization conditions issued by ictQATAR.  The company is mandated to accelerate the rollout of a nationwide, open, and accessible high-speed broadband Fiber to the Home (FTTH) network.  The resulting high-speed broadband connectivity will enable the effective use of multimedia and communications applications that are central to developing Qatar's knowledge economy. Qatar National Broadband Network Company (Q.NBN) is a fully independent company with the government mandate to accelerate the rollout of a nationwide, open and accessible high-speed broadband Fiber to the Home (FTTH) network.  Q.NBN will provide fiber access to citizens and businesses across Qatar, achieving coverage targets in excess of 95% by 2015.  Q.NBN will focus solely on the deployment of a passive network infrastructure, efficiently leveraging existing and new infrastructure in Qatar.  Q.NBN operates within the existing laws and under license conditions issued by ictQATAR.