Starlink Satellite Qatar licensed to provide broadband Internet services

The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) on Wednesday issued an Individual Licence for the Provision of Public Satellite Telecommunications Networks and Services to Starlink Satellite Qatar WLL. This follows a decision of HE Mohamed bin Ali al-Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology.Starlink Satellite Qatar has recently been established in Qatar by leading international company SpaceX. This licence authorises 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, which provides 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 the Starlink Premium service, which is designed specifically for businesses and high-demand users and allows 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.In a statement, CRA said the licence granted to Starlink Satellite Qatar contributes to enhancing the availability of telecommunications services in remote locations away from the mainland, especially in areas where the services of the current licensed companies are not fully available (such as oil and gas platforms at sea, ships, yachts and aircrafts), provide complementary and alternative telecommunications services for individuals and enterprises consumers, and provide back-up communications throughout Qatar in the event of a major outage in telecommunications networks."The grant of this licence is consistent with international trends in the field. It contributes to the development of the Information and Communications Technology sector and encourages more foreign investments in the country; therefore, diversifying the national economy, which supports Qatar National Vision 2030," the statement adds.The grant of the Individual Licence followed consultation with the stakeholders and relevant government entities.The licence can be accessed through CRA’s website via this link.