Pre-qualifications for VSAT Licenses

The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology, ictQATAR, invited all interested parties on October 14th, 2009 to participate in the pre-qualification stage of the licensing process for three additional VSAT licenses in the Qatari Market. The launch of this process followed a public consultation that ictQATAR conducted earlier in 2009 on its intention to license new VSAT providers in Qatar.

VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a wireless, satellite-based system that can support organizations, with dispersed offices and remote sites, to have internal telecommunications (voice and data) links. It is commonly used by large organizations with multiple and remote locations, such as banks, retail stores and gas and oil companies. It is particularly useful in Qatar for off-shore gas and oil platforms to communicate with on-shore offices.

"The purpose for licensing three VSAT service providers at this phase of liberalization of the telecommunications sector is to bring experienced VSAT service providers into the market to address a high demand for VSAT services from some of the country's key industries and to build a solid investment and competitive platform for the VSAT market", said Ahmad Sultan, Licensing Section Manager at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of ictQATAR.
The licenses will authorize the operation of a VSAT network and the provision of VSAT services to Closed User Groups. The VSAT operators would not be able to provide public telecommunications services to businesses or consumers.

The licenses will be issued through a competitive process to attract the best VSAT service providers. The invitation to pre-qualification is the first phase of the licensing process. Those who qualify in this phase will be eligible to compete for a license in the second phase.

Participation in the pre-qualification process is open to all interested VSAT service providers who meet specified requirements. A detailed description of the pre-qualification process, the requirements and criteria and the pre-qualification form are all included in the 'Invitation to Pre-qualification' document that is available online at http://www.ictqatar.qa/output/Page1484.asp.

Interested parties who meet the specified requirements are invited to complete the pre-qualification form and submit it by 12 November 2009 to ictQATAR by email to [email protected] or by post or courier to:

Mr. Ahmad Sultan
Licensing Section Manager
Regulatory Authority
The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR)
Al-Nasr Tower, 19th Floor
Corniche Road
PO Box 23264
Doha, Qatar.

For more information: visit: www.ictQATAR.qa