Public Consultation on Licensing Framework

The Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology, ictQATAR, today launched a second round of public consultation on its proposed licensing framework for the telecommunications sector in Qatar. ictQATAR holds the authority to establish a fair, objective and transparent licensing regime under Telecommunications Law no. 34 of 2006. This consultation relates to services which will not normally be provided by a licensed public network operator.

In order to streamline the licensing processes, ictQATAR proposes to introduce a class license for the resale of specific telecommunications services and a class license for owning and operating private telecommunications networks within corporations. Class licenses allow eligible parties to conduct these telecommunications activities as long as they respect the terms and conditions of the respective class license and the applicable rules and regulations and other legal requirements in the State of Qatar.

“The licensing framework is one of the fundamental pillars of any regulatory regime and we have decided to conduct a second round of public consultation to give the public and the market players an opportunity to comment on elaborated positions regarding this important and essential regulatory subject. The proposed licensing framework aims to address urgent business and market needs, legalize current activities as appropriate, align licensing practices with the Telecommunications Law and simplify the licensing procedures. This framework applies international best practices and responds to the new innovations in telecommunications services and technologies,” said Ahmad Sultan, Licensing Section Manager in the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority at ictQATAR.

The proposed licensing framework continues the implementation of ictQATAR’s general policy for the liberalization of the telecommunications sector that was published in 2007.

The revised proposed licensing framework and draft class licenses are available for review online at www.ictQATAR.qa and the public is invited to submit comments about these documents by 10 June 2009.

Responses can be sent by email to [email protected] or by courier or post to:
Regulatory Authority
The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR)
Mr. Ahmad Sultan
Al Nasr Tower, 19th Floor
Corniche Road
P.O.Box: 23264
Doha, Qatar

At the end of the consultation period, ictQATAR will review all responses received and take them into consideration in the preparation of the final version of the new Licensing Framework and class licenses.

For details, go to: http://www.ictQATAR.qa