Qatar's broadband boom continues apace

Qatar's Internet subscriber base has been growing at strong rates along the past four years. In 2005 Q-Tel added 16,445 total subscribers (a growth rate of 45% in 2005). The total Internet accounts market further grew by 32% in 2006.

To date, Q-Tel remains the sole telecom operator in Qatar's telecom market including Internet and datacomm. According to Law No. 21 of 1998, Q-Tel has been the sole and exclusive operator providing fixed, mobile, Internet and datacomm services in Qatar. In the last quarter of 2006, His Highness Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, issued the liberalization law of Qatar's telecom market.

ictQATAR, is the policy making and regulatory body for information and communication technology in Qatar. Emir Decree - Law No.36 of 2004 established the regulator as the Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology by as both a regulator and an enabler of Qatar's ICT sector.

A new report, 'Qatar Internet and Datacomm Landscape' was released to the Arab Advisors Group's Telecoms Strategic Research Service subscribers on February 21, 2007. This report can be purchased from the Arab Advisors Group for only US$ 950. The 40-page report, which has 41 detailed exhibits, provides a detailed analysis of the Qatari Internet and datacomm markets. The report includes 5-year historical and 5-year projections on Internet uptake and revenues. The report provides a detailed and comprehensive picture on the Internet market strategies and regulations, e-government, and online content and services landscape. Please contact the Arab Advisors Group to get a copy of the reports Table of Contents.

'The uptake of the ADSL service in Qatar's Internet market ascended along the years that followed its introduction. The ADSL service constituted 66.7% of the growing Internet market by end of 2006 up from 7.6% by end of 2003.' Miss Hadeel Sakkijha, Arab Advisors Senior Research Analyst wrote in the report. 'The Arab Advisors group expects the ADSL accounts to further grow, yet at a slower pace, at a CAGR of 21.5% over the period 2007 and 2011 to reach around 147,000 by end of 2011 (reaching 80% of the total projected Internet accounts).' Miss Sakkijha added.