Qatar Planning Second Mobile License Award

Qatar's telecoms regulator, the ictQATAR has announced plans to offer a second mobile license in the country, to compete with monopoly operatot, Qatar Telecom (Qtel). The competitive selection process to own and operate a mobile telecommunications network and provide telecommunications services begins with a pre-qualification phase. During this phase, interested applicants will be required to satisfy specific criteria and procedures to qualify for selection.

The mobile pre-qualification period expires 27 May 2007.

ictQATAR Secretary General Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber said, "We recently concluded an initial consultation period on the licensing process. We were delighted with the response from companies from around the world - numerous operators expressed interest in business opportunities here."

Within the next few months, ictQATAR will launch a separate process to award a license to own and operate a fixed telecommunications network and provide public fixed telecommunications services in competition with Qtel. In parallel, ictQATAR will award fixed and mobile licenses to Qtel. All licenses are expected to be awarded by the end of 2007.

"In every step of the telecom liberalization process, ictQATAR will be committed to transparency and fairness," said Dr. Hessa. "

Posted to the site on 25th April 2007