A Statement from ictQATAR

ictQATAR, the nation’s telecommunications regulator, issued on May 30, 2010 a statement relating to the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Qatar.

ictQATAR affirms that only two telecommunications service providers, Qtel and Vodafone Qatar, have received licenses to provide public mobile telecommunications services in Qatar. This is fully consistent with ictQATAR’s commitment to limit the number of individual telecommunications licenses to provide mobile services to two service providers until it has completed a strategic sector review.

Recent press reports have noted concerns about the presence of Virgin Mobile in Qatar. Any entity with concerns about this matter should file a formal complaint with ictQATAR, including evidence to support these concerns. ictQATAR will investigate any properly filed complaint and take appropriate action following due process and the consideration of all relevant information.

The telecommunications law makes it unlawful to provide telecommunications services to the public without a license, and authorizes ictQATAR to issue enforcement orders and notices. ictQATAR has objectives and powers to identify and address anti-competitive practices in the telecommunications sector, to ensure the orderly development and regulation of the telecommunications sector, and to establish a fair, objective and transparent licensing regime for service providers.
Qatar’s legal processes for regulating the telecommunications sector are outlined in the telecommunications law (www.ictqatar.qa) and are consistent with global best practices.

ictQATAR works to ensure that the country's telecommunications law is fully complied with by those subject to it. In addition, ictQATAR has and continues to instruct Licensees to implement consumer protection requirements by ensuring there is no misleading advertising or marketing of telecommunications services in Qatar.