The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) issued an individual license to Starlink Satellite Qatar, a recently established entity by SpaceX, for the provision of public satellite telecommunications networks and services.
Following the decision of His Excellency Mohammed bin Ali Al-Mannai, minister of communications and information technology (MCIT), this telecom license authorizes Starlink Satellite Qatar to provide satellite broadband Internet services to individuals and enterprises in Qatar via the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation of SpaceX, providing comprehensive global Internet service coverage.
The main services that Starlink Satellite Qatar intends to provide in the country include direct-to-consumer satellite Internet service and “Starlink Premium” service, which is designed specifically for businesses and high-demand users, allowing download speeds of 150-500 Megabits per second (Mbps) and latency of 20-40 milliseconds (ms), in addition to other services that may benefit the local mobile operators.
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The license granted by CRA Qatar to the satellite company contributes to enhancing the availability of telecom services in remote locations away from the mainland, especially in areas where the services of the currently licensed companies are not fully available. It also provides complementary and alternative telecom services for individuals and enterprises, as well as back-up communications throughout Qatar in the event of a major telecom outage.
The granting of this new telecom license in Qatar contributes to the development of the ICT sector and encourages more foreign investments in the country, thereby diversifying the national economy, which supports Qatar National Vision 2030.
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