Telecommunications services and service delivery will improve significantly in Qatar in the next few years as improved infrastructure and networks in Qatar and leading in and out of Qatar are installed and activated across the country.
Demand from consumers and businesses for multiple high-speed services and applications to fixed terminals and mobile devices is driving telecoms operators, ictQATAR, and the State of Qatar to speed up installation of the necessary telecoms infrastructure and network over which those services and applications will be delivered to end-users. The result will be improved quality and new and enhanced service offerings in both fixed and mobile markets. Fixed infrastructure supports both fixed and mobile networks and services.
Once the infrastructure and network is in place, customers can expect real benefits from service providers including higher quality and more innovative services, enhanced service delivery, competitive pricing, creative bundling, and a variety of new services and applications.
What part is ictQATAR playing?
As the independent regulator and ICT champion, ictQATAR has driven market liberalization of the telecommunications sector in Qatar to create competition and facilitate the provision of new and improved telecommunications services to individuals and businesses.. The result of competition at the retail level is lower prices, a greater variety of products and services, and more streamlined customer service management in areas such as online and automated bill-paying, an increase in customer care services and service information, and terms and conditions that are more flexible and user-friendly.
After creating the regulatory framework for competition and growth in the telecommunications sector, ictQATAR licensed QTel and Vodafone to provide telecommunications networks that would cover 100 percent of the geography of Qatar and deliver services over those networks to 100 percent of the population over time. ictQATAR has been working with the licensees and government agencies to improve the processes for obtaining road openings, site approvals, land acquisition, and access to infrastructure, as these enable the Licensees to meet those coverage requirements.
Both Licensees have struggled to achieve the high-standard of Quality of Service (QOS) requirements specified in their licenses for voice, broadband and leased lines. ictQATAR assists the Licensees where possible to improve their QOS, and has placed stringent reporting obligations on the Licensees that address the areas they have highlighted as obstacles to improving QOS such as installation deadlines, fault rectification and repairs, correct billing, network latency, and customer service.
ictQATAR has also developed a multi-language consumer protection and complaints function to address specific inquiries and complaints from consumers about service providers. This includes a telephone hotline, dedicated email address, and an online registration form. To date, 98 percent of complaints and inquiries that are within f ictQATAR’s power to resolve have been resolved. Any systemic or ongoing problem concerning a service provider or its services has been vigorously pursued and addressed including the issues surrounding. QTel Virgin Mobile services or Vodafone QOS issues.
ictQATAR has also issued a series of class licences to automatically permit activities (and related equipment importation) that previously required approval each time on a case-by-case basis. This includes the operation of short range devices and hejin (camel) racing. Class licences for private networks and reselling telecommunications services will follow.
ictQATAR has also been working to improve conditions at the wholesale or network level by encouraging QTel and Vodafone to continue to upgrade and install high-speed fixed networks, and by authorizing service providers in specific areas of telecommunications services.
At the end of 2010, ictQATAR awarded three VSAT Licences to independent operators in Qatar for the sole purpose of providing VSAT services to closed user groups in Qatar. Companies that communicate regularly with many offices in a closed user group have already benefited from these licenses.
Recently, ictQATAR authorized the Q.NBN company to develop and deliver wholesale (passive) fixed telecommunications infrastructure across Qatar. The Q.NBN optical fibre infrastructure is expected to link with other telecommunications networks and infrastructure so that public licensees such as QTel, Vodafone and any subsequent fixed licensees can deliver high-speed state-of-the-art telecommunications services to homes and businesses seamlessly.
Q.NBN company commenced activities on 14 July 2011 and is expected to have deployed a significant amount of telecommunications infrastructure within 12 months that will be accessed by QTel and Vodafone and connect with their networks.
Other entities such as developers, large companies, and government enterprises are also upgrading their own telecommunications internal connections and equipment that connect to the QTel or Vodafone networks to enable seamless delivery. This includes new and improved internal block-wiring in towers, compounds, and homes that connect to the lead-in cables provided by a service provider. ictQATAR has been instrumental in the development of common standards and specifications for this in Qatar, so that all infrastructure, network and cabling and technical requirements are compatible and standardized.
ictQATAR has also entered into a joint investment with Eutelsat to build, launch, and operate a high powered communications satellite that will offer satellite multi-media services including for broadcasting (television and radio stations) and telecommunications by 2013.
What part are QTel and Vodafone playing?
Qatar Telecom (QTel) and Vodafone Qatar, the two operators licensed to provide fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Qatar, are both upgrading and improving their core networks, access networks and links to retail customers.
QTel affirms it has rolled-out more than 1000 kilometres of high-speed fibre optic cables in neighbourhoods and to business communities in Qatar since March 2010. In the next six months, QTel expects to begin an 18-month migration of customers from the old copper network to the new fibre network which will enable the provision of new and enhanced broadband services including what QTel calls a ‘fast Internet experience’. QTel’s international connectivity is also expected to be enhanced by the Tata Global Network Gulf submarine fibre cable initiative that is slated to become fully functional by the end of 2011. This TATA link provides additional capacity for QTel traffic to Mumbai, Asia and the rest of the world. QTel already has an arrangement for traffic over the Flag/FOG system and with GBI in Qatar, a privately-owned Sub-cable system that links the Middle East with Asia and Europe and on to the rest of the world.
According to Vodafone, it has started deploying its fiber backbone to connect with the Qatar National Broadband Network (QNBN) as part of its plan to develop a state-of- the- art fully converged fixed and mobile network in Qatar on which Vodafone will introduce a suite of advanced services available from its global portfolio. Vodafone has also constructed its own International Landing Station that will connect to the GBI sea cable system providing additional international connectivity. On its mobile network, Vodafone continues to expand its site roll-out across the country to further enhance its depth of coverage, as well as upgrade its data capabilities to offer higher connection speeds and traffic volumes and faster response times to its customers. To support these higher ‘through-put’ rates, major activities are underway to move to an IP/MPLS transport for the radio access network.
More about the Qatar National Broadband Network
In the next 5 years, the State of Qatar will be developing a next-generation, high-speed broadband network over which existing and new broadband services will be delivered by QTel, Vodafone and any third operator that may be licensed to provide telecommunications services in Qatar. The QNBN initiative will provide a Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) network, and will link existing telecommunications infrastructure throughout Qatar so that government, private businesses and consumers will have a greater choice of high-speed broadband services.
The QNBN will deliver a passive fixed telecommunications infrastructure that will be offered on a non-discriminatory and non-exclusive basis to public telecommunications licensees (QTel and Vodafone). These licensees can connect their own networks to the QNBN and deliver faster Internet speeds, more applications and more consistent quality of service to their customers.
International Capacity
International connectivity in and out of Qatar is made possible by submarine fibre optic cables, cables laid over land or satellite communications.
There are currently 3 submarine cable networks accessible to telecommunications operators in Qatar. FALCON is a submarine cable connecting India and Qatar, as well as Egypt and several countries in the Arabian Gulf. Flag/Falcon connects the GCC, North Africa and India. FOG connects the UAE with Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
Two other submarine cable providers will be operational in Qatar in the next few years. Gulf Bridge International Cable System (GBICS) is expected to operational by the end of 2011. GBICS will link all GCC countries with North Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world. The TATA Global Network (TGN) which has already landed in Qatar, is expected to be in operation by the end of 2011.
These new sub-cable networks will improve the speed and capacity for international telecommunications traffic, both voice and data, which will improve internet speeds and services. They will also provide backup if one cable is cut or damaged.
International telecommunications traffic is also being transmitted over land by telecoms operators that interconnect with essential services entities such as electricity and water companies that have infrastructure already in place. The GCCIA is an initiative that makes use of electricity infrastructure to deliver telecommunications transmission services to GCC countries.
In addition, QTel has an arrangement with Intelsat fixed satellite service providers to expand QTel’s international connectivity and provide a portfolio of services for its wholesale and business customers in the Middle East.
As mentioned earlier in this article, Qatar has begun an initiative to build, launch, and operate a high-capacity communications satellite that will cover Qatar and the surrounding Middle East and North African region. Qatar Satellite Company (QSC) is planning to offer satellite multi-media services including for broadcasting (television and radio stations) and telecommunications. It will also be possible to serve requirements for TV contribution services, corporate networks, mobile positioning and communications, Internet backbone connectivity and broadband access for terrestrial, maritime and in-flight applications.
What are the benefits to the consumer and business?
Prior to the founding of ictQATAR, Qtel was the only provider of telecommunications networks and services in Qatar.. Currently, there are two providers of public fixed and mobile services, with a third fixed provider to follow, VSAT service providers, and wholesale telecommunications and network infrastructure providers in Qatar. In 2012, ictQATAR will examine the case for a third mobile services provider in Qatar.
In the next few years, people in Qatar will benefit from additional fixed, and possibly mobile, service providers who will offer a greater range of telecoms services at enhanced speeds and quality, as well as competitive prices.
The additional telecoms infrastructure delivered by QNBN and others will effectively complete the backbone needed to deliver high-speed broadband services to all end-users. It will also supplement the constructive work being carried out by QTel and Vodafone in upgrading and further developing their own networks so that new high-speed services may be provided to retail customers.
As international connectivity increases, there will be more capacity for traffic, resulting in faster downloads and uploads of information via the Internet, faster call connection and lower call drop-out rates. Extra capacity via satellite will also improve delivery of services.
And most importantly, customer service will improve through competition, ongoing regulatory requirements, and consumer protection initiatives. ictQATAR is already requiring service providers to provide choices in billing options, service provisioning, and customer care that were not previously available to people in Qatar.
It is clear the combination of competition at the retail and wholesale levels, telecoms infrastructure improvements, and new and enhanced services and service delivery will produce real economic benefits for people in Qatar. And the growth of the telecoms sector will contribute to the economic strength of the country.
