Nawras To Launch Corporate VSAT Services Across Oman Over iDirect Evolution Platform

HERNDON, Va., March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), today announced that Nawras, which provides both fixed and mobile telecommunications services in the Sultanate of Oman, will upgrade to iDirect Evolution. The platform upgrade will play a key role helping Nawras deliver new VSAT services, such as enterprise connectivity, SCADA and mobility. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

Among the emerging markets that stand to benefit most from this extension of services offered by Nawras is the oil and gas market. A major industry in the Sultanate of Oman, oil and gas typically operates across remote locations throughout the country. This calls for the need for reliable communications between remote locations, which Nawras will now be able to deliver.

In addition, Evolution will help Nawras, part of Ooredoo Group, enhance its fast-growing cellular backhaul business. This will allow for higher network efficiency, lowering bandwidth utilization and cost.

"Our upgrade to Evolution will allow us to leverage the latest advancements iDirect has to offer for the benefit of our cellular backhaul customers, as well as to customers across various other Omani market segments. We believe timing for this upgrade is optimal, given the growing VSAT opportunities across such segments as oil and gas, enterprise, mobility and SCADA."

~ Wolfgang WEMHOFF
CTO, Nawras

"Nawras is a pioneer in the Oman communications market and the first in this region to provide GSM backhauling services. Now as the next big opportunities around VSAT emerge across the region, the Evolution platform will help open the door to new markets and to increase revenue opportunities for Nawras."

~ Majdi ATOUT
Regional Vice President, Middle East and Africa, iDirect

About Nawras:
Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company SAOG was founded and registered in the Sultanate of Oman in December 2004. It launched its service in March 2005 as the challenger mobile operator in Oman operating under the name Nawras. Nawras was awarded the second fixed licence in Oman in 2009, and launched its international gateway in April 2010, its corporate fixed and broadband services in May 2010, and its residential fixed and broadband services in June 2010. Since 2010, Nawras has been an integrated services telecommunications operator and is currently serving over 2 million customers across the Sultanate. Following a successful IPO, Nawras is listed on the Muscat Stock Market (MSM) under the "nwrs" ticker since 1 November 2010.  Nawras is majority owned by Ooredoo, formerly known as Qtel Group, and also has a number of significant Omani shareholders which ensures that the company is strongly integrated into the Omani society. Nawras has won a number of awards including Jury's Distinction Award for Customer Service Excellence in the telecom sector 2013, Innovation in HR Strategy 2011 from Asia's Best Employer Brand Awards, Outstanding Leader from TMT Finance Middle East 2011, Best IPO in the Middle East from emeafinance magazine and Strategic Leadership Award from Global HR Excellence Awards 2011.

Ooredoo, formerly known as Qtel Group, is a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and South-East Asia. As a community-focused company, Ooredoo is guided by its vision of enriching people's lives and its belief that it can stimulate human growth by leveraging communications to help people achieve their full potential. Ooredoo has a presence in markets such as Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Iraq, Palestine, the Maldives and Indonesia. The company reported annual revenues of $9.3 billion U.S. dollars and had a consolidated global customer base of more than 92 million people as of 31 December 2012. Ooredoo's shares are listed on the Qatar Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

iDirect, a subsidiary of VT Systems, is a global leader in IP-based satellite communications providing technology that enables our 350+partners to optimize their networks, differentiate and expand their businesses. The iDirect Intelligent Platform™ allows our partners to run their entire business operations more efficiently via a single, unified IP-based satellite architecture, whether it's providing core IP applications to the enterprise or specialized services to any number of diverse vertical markets. iDirect is the #1 name in global satellite communications in key industries including maritime, military/government, and oil and gas, with a 62% hub market share and more than a quarter million remotes installed worldwide. In 2007, iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) was formed to drive adoption of its IP-based solutions in the U.S. government market. In 2008, iDirect Asia Pte Ltd was established in Singapore to enhance its value-add and responsiveness to customers in the Asia Pacific region. For more information please visit www.idirect.net.

VT Systems is an engineering company providing integrated solutions to the commercial and government markets in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. VT Systems' innovative solutions, products and services include aircraft maintenance, repair and modification; software solutions in training and simulation; satellite-based IP communications technology; network solutions that integrate data, voice and video; rugged computers and computer peripheral equipment; specialized truck bodies and trailers; weapons and munitions systems; road construction equipment; and ship design and shipbuilding. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., VT Systems operates globally and is a wholly owned subsidiary of ST Engineering. Please visit www.vt-systems.com.

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