Nawras GCC SmartRoamer rates are already lower than new TRA targets

Nawras, Oman’s customer friendly communications provider, continues to lead the telecommunications market in Oman with attractive GCC roaming rates that are offering fantastic value for customers as well as making it easier to get closer when travelling. While the TRA is requesting other operators to lower their rates, Nawras is already offering SmartRoamer tariffs that are considerably lower than the new Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) targets for customers roaming in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. 

Furthermore, while the new GCC regulations are limited to a reduction in the tariff of voice calls only, Nawras SmartRoamer introduced reductions in SMS and data as well as voice, making it easier for customers to communicate when travelling. 

As part of a Qtel Group initiative, Nawras first reduced roaming rates on voice, SMS and data services through the introduction of SmartRoamer in June 2009. Since then, this service has been giving roaming rates as low as 99 Baizas per minute when calling within a visited GCC country and as low as 199 Baizas per minute when calling back to Oman or when calling any other GCC country while roaming within the GCC. 

For nearly three years, customers have been benefitting from this great value every time they communicate from any GCC country using their Nawras SIM card. 

Through SmartRoamer, GCC roaming rates were cut by more than 60% on voice, more than 80% on wireless data services and over 25% for SMS. This significant reduction in data charges is particularly useful for travelling business customers who can check emails and browse the web while benefitting from these highly competitive rates. 

The SmartRoamer service gives all Nawras customers the potential to enjoy considerable savings when making local calls in any of the GCC countries as well as when calling back home to Oman. Rates are applied automatically so there is no need for any kind of registration to benefit from these rates; SmartRoamer service automatically extends the low rates to all Nawras customers travelling in the GCC. 

“When we introduced SmartRoamer in 2009 we cut calling rates from GCC countries from around 500 Baizas per minute to only 199 Baizas per minute,” said Ross Cormack, Chief Executive Officer. “Nawras customers have been getting this fantastic rate ever since. Our customers are getting great savings with rates that are even lower than those announced recently by the TRA.

“We slashed our data roaming prices even further, reducing them from around RO 6 per MB to only RO 1.199 and these are still very competitive rates today. SmartRoamer gives Nawras customers amazing value when travelling because it costs much less to surf the net or call home to the family when using networks that are part of the scheme,” he added. 

Nawras is thrilled to offer SmartRoamer so customers can enjoy attractive calling and data packages right across the region with Qtel in Qatar, Batelco in Bahrain, STC/Al Jawal and Mobily in Saudi Arabia, Etisilat in UAE and Wataniya in Kuwait. 

Customers can find more details about this great value service by visiting the Nawras website at www.nawras.om or any Nawras Store. Alternatively, a free SMS with the keyword Smart can be sent to 1500. 

With SmartRoamer and its roaming partners, Nawras is helping customers to get closer to friends, family and business colleagues when travelling abroad.