Frost and Sullivan perspective on: Mobile number portability availability in Qatar

The drive from increased competition brought by the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) should place pricing and service quality firmly in the minds of the operators when they are planning. Even in one of the world's richest countries consumer choice has a role. By continuing to promote competition, the telecom regulator is showing that it takes the needs of the consumer into account, as well as that of large corporations.

The move to provide MNP services should focus minds, but realistically, where there is a duopoly, changes will not be significant. Vodafone continues to do well in Qatar, and have already prompted a more competitive position from Qtel, however there is unlikely to be an all-out, price-war in Qatar as a result. For true competition to make an impact, three or four communication service providers need to be given a level playing-field.

With the high-investment required to build a network and even in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) environmental issues are coming to the fore, a full-scale new Operator license is unlikely. However, as with many other Middle-East markets, if the regulators in Qatar want to see really competitive pricing, only MVNOs could make a big impact.