ictQATAR continues telecommunications liberalization process

Publication of the document, 'Procedures for Registering Expressions of Interest and Request for Comments (REI)' marks the start of the process.

ictQATAR is Qatar's national telecommunications regulatory authority.

A second operator in Qatar will provide to individual and business consumers choice among landline providers.

The fixed line licensing process is part of Qatar's telecommunications market liberalization and follows on the heels of the process to introduce competition among mobile providers, ictQATAR Secretary General Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber said, "This is an exciting milestone in our effort to bring choice to all those who live and work in Qatar. We are looking for a fixed operator who can bring innovative technologies and new infrastructure to our country to benefit consumers and business."

Parties have until 9 September 2007 to register interest and to submit comments. ictQATAR expects that the second fixed license will be issued at the end of this year following an application phase. This phase is expected to be a comparative evaluation process, commonly called a 'beauty contest'.

Candidates for the mobile licensing process may also register their interest for the fixed license. ictQATAR seeks expressions of interest from licensed fixed-line operators who have at least 150,000 customers.

ictQATAR today published for comment on its website a draft license for the second fixed operator. Comments on the draft license are due by 9 September 2007.

ictQATAR also seeks comment on dominance within the telecommunications industry in Qatar. Replies to that paper are due on or before 16 September 2007.

The process for awarding a second mobile telecommunications license has been underway in Qatar since April 2007. ictQATAR announced the list of pre-qualified candidates on 2 July 2007; the final application procedures document was published on 10 July 2007. Bids are expected by 2 September 2007. ictQATAR expects to announce the new mobile provider in October 2007.