Qnbn

Fiber Broadband Infrastructureqnbn.qa

Company typePrivate
Founded2011
HeadquartersDoha, Qatar
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Qnbn does

Qatar National Broadband Network (QNBN) is a Doha-based, government-owned private joint-stock company established in 2011 to deploy and operate Qatar's national passive fiber optic broadband infrastructure. The company owns and operates a passive fiber network covering 95% of Qatar's geographic area using GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology for residential and small-business access and P2P (Point-to-Point) dedicated links for large enterprises, with the Unified Government Network (UGN) serving as the secure backbone for nearly all essential government entities. QNBN also owns Gulf Bridge International (GBI), a subsidiary operating a subsea cable network across regional and international markets.

QNBN operates a regulated wholesale-plus-retail business model. Its primary revenue stream is wholesale leasing of passive fiber capacity to licensed telecom operators — principally Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar — on an open, non-discriminatory basis. Direct retail fiber services (GPON and P2P) and managed private-network services are sold to government ministries, oil and gas majors (Qatargas, Qatar Energy, TOTALEnergies, McDermott), financial institutions (QIIB, Dukhan Bank), healthcare (Hamad Medical Corporation), real estate developments (Msheireb Properties), and global technology firms (Microsoft, Google). Pricing follows CRA-approved multi-year tariff schedules (C2NSE, E2E C2C, E2E P2P, P2P-1F) with subscription-style recurring contracts.

In 2025 QNBN accelerated its strategic repositioning from pure infrastructure utility to integrated digital-services provider, signing a multi-year Microsoft Azure agreement (MACC) for AI, data-platform, and cybersecurity capabilities, plus MoUs with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (R&D), malomatia (IT systems integration), and Doha Bank (vertical banking services). The company is chaired by H.E. Eng. Isa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari (also chairman of Kahramaa) and led by CEO Eng. Ahmad Mohamed Al-Kuwari, with Qatar Investment Authority holding board representation.

Qnbn firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Qnbn
Legal name: Qatar National Broadband Network
Website: https://qnbn.qa
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2011
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Qnbn industry classification

Industry

Product category: Fiber Broadband Infrastructure
NAICS: Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171)
SIC: Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)
akta.pro primary industry: Fiber-to-the-Premises/Building (FTTP/FTTB) Operators (HDAIACAC)
akta.pro secondary industries: Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases) (HDAIALAI), Subsea & Terrestrial Backhaul to Data Centers and Cloud On-Ramps (IX/DC Interconnect) (HDAIALAJ)

Keywords

National fiber broadband
Passive fiber infrastructure
Wholesale broadband services
Enterprise fiber connectivity
Open access network

Where Qnbn is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Doha
HQ country: Qatar
HQ region: Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

Qnbn business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

Wholesale Fiber Leasing: QNBN leases its passive fiber optic broadband infrastructure to telecom service providers (wholesale basis), enabling them to offer broadband services to end users. This is the primary revenue model as a neutral, open-access network operator.
Retail Fiber Services: Direct fiber connectivity services to enterprises, government entities, and large organizations on a retail basis, including GPON for small businesses and P2P for large corporations.
Private Network Services: Custom fiber network solutions for specific sectors including real estate developments, healthcare facilities, oil and gas operations, and educational institutions.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Multi-year contract	C2NSE Retail Tariff - Network services for service providers
Subscription	Multi-year contract	E2E C2C Retail Tariff - End-to-end customer-to-customer connectivity
Subscription	Multi-year contract	E2E P2P Retail Tariff - End-to-end point-to-point dedicated connections
Subscription	Multi-year contract	P2P-1F Retail Tariff - Single fiber point-to-point service

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Qnbn product offering

Product offering

Core offering

QNBN develops, owns, and operates Qatar's nationwide passive fiber optic broadband infrastructure and provides wholesale and retail fiber connectivity services. The company leases passive fiber infrastructure on an open-access basis to telecom service providers (Ooredoo, Vodafone) and delivers dedicated GPON and P2P fiber connections directly to government ministries, large enterprises, and sectors such as healthcare, education, oil and gas, and real estate development.

Product overview

QNBN (Qatar National Broadband Network) is Qatar's national digital infrastructure provider offering a portfolio of passive fiber optic broadband products and services. The core offering is the National Fiber Optic Broadband Network — a nationwide passive fiber infrastructure platform providing open, wholesale access to licensed telecommunications service providers, enabling end users to choose their preferred broadband provider. The product portfolio includes GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) access for residential and small business customers, P2P (Point-to-Point) dedicated connectivity for large enterprises, and the Unified Government Network (UGN) serving government entities. QNBN also owns Gulf Bridge International (GBI), a subsea cable network operator connecting regional and international markets. Service providers and enterprises access the network on a wholesale or retail basis, while QNBN manages and operates the underlying passive infrastructure. The network covers 95% of Qatar's area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) Connectivity Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) fiber-to-the-premises connectivity service for residential customers, small businesses, and commercial compounds, delivering high-speed broadband (100+ Mbps) via QNBN's passive fiber infrastructure.
P2P (Point-to-Point) Enterprise Connectivity Dedicated Point-to-Point fiber connections for large enterprises and organizations requiring secure, high-bandwidth private network links with guaranteed symmetrical speeds.
Unified Government Network (UGN) Dedicated government fiber network providing secure, high-speed communications for government ministries, departments, and security agencies across Qatar, forming the backbone of e-government services.
National Fiber Optic Broadband Network Wholesale national passive fiber optic broadband infrastructure providing open, non-discriminatory access to telecom service providers, covering 95% of Qatar's area and enabling end users to choose their preferred broadband provider.
Gulf Bridge International (GBI) Subsea Cable Network Subsidiary-operated submarine cable network (Gulf Bridge International) owned by QNBN Group, connecting Qatar to regional and international telecommunications markets.

Quantifiable outcome

95% nationwide coverage across Qatar's area
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Qnbn

Customer profile

Named customers21 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Qnbn technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Qnbn partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025MoU to establish cooperation in next-generation networking, digital security research, and capacity building for Qatar's digital economy. The partnership leverages CMU-Q's expertise in AI, computer science, and information systems with QNBN's leadership in fiber and wireless infrastructure. Signed at MWC Doha 2025.
MicrosoftcoreTechnology or Integration · 25 November 2025QNBN Group and Microsoft signed a multi-year agreement through Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) to advance Qatar's digital infrastructure and accelerate innovation through cloud and AI. The partnership leverages Microsoft Azure for unified data platform, Agentic AI capabilities, and cybersecurity expertise to enhance operational agility, scalability, and customer service excellence. Signed during Mobile World Congress Doha 2025.
malomatiamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2025MoU to foster strategic collaboration and advance Qatar's digital transformation. The partnership aims to develop integrated services combining fiber optic infrastructure with IT expertise, establish joint marketing strategy, and deliver digital solutions for public and private sector clients.
Doha BankmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2025MoU to advance banking solutions and strengthen Qatar's digital infrastructure. The partnership aims to enhance the banking sector's digital capabilities through improved connectivity infrastructure. Signed at Web Summit Qatar 2025.
OoredoocoreTechnology or IntegrationOngoing collaboration for network infrastructure deployment, including the Doha Port project. QNBN and Ooredoo have signed multiple agreements to advance connectivity infrastructure across Qatar, with Ooredoo leveraging QNBN's fiber network for service delivery.
Gulf Bridge International (GBI)coreOthersGBI is a subsidiary owned by QNBN Group. GBI is a leading telecommunications provider operating across multiple countries, owning and managing an extensive subsea cable network connecting key regional and international markets.
EricssonmajorTechnology or IntegrationAgreement signed in October 2012 at ITU Telecom World in Dubai for deployment of Ericsson's Fiber Optic Solution, fiber cables, and central offices in Qatar's new fiber network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Qnbn competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Qnbn financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Qnbn leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Qnbn subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries1 record

Qnbn funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Qnbn M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Qnbn

What does Qnbn do?

Is Qnbn a public or private company?

Qnbn is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was Qnbn founded?

Qnbn was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is Qnbn based?

Qnbn is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, in the Middle East region.

How does Qnbn make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Wholesale Fiber Leasing is the primary driver. The others are retail Fiber Services and private Network Services.

Does Qnbn have an API?

No public API is recorded for Qnbn.

What industry is Qnbn in?

Qnbn's product category is Fiber Broadband Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIACAC, Fiber-to-the-Premises/Building (FTTP/FTTB) Operators, with a secondary code of HDAIALAI, Wholesale Wavelength, Spectrum & Dark Fiber Providers (IRU/Leases). Its NAICS code is 517111 and its SIC code is 7385.