Latest news with #AliAlSuwaidi
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
CRA opens access to over 4,860km of govt telecom infrastructure across Qatar
Doha, Qatar: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has opened access to more than 4,860km of government telecom duct infrastructure across Qatar. This forms part of CRA's broader regulatory mandate to optimise the use of national telecom assets, enable licensed service providers to scale their networks more efficiently, and support the delivery of high-quality digital services to homes and businesses. The initiative reflects CRA's strategic objective to promote fair and open access to essential telecom infrastructure—reducing duplicate deployments, improving investment efficiency, and accelerating the rollout of next-generation technologies such as fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and 5G. It supports Qatar's ambitions for a robust digital economy and future-ready connectivity ecosystem. Ali Al-Suwaidi, Director of the Technical Affairs Department at CRA stated: 'Ensuring equitable access to national telecom infrastructure is a core part of our regulatory mandate. It enables licensed service providers to scale efficiently and deliver reliable services that meet users' expectations. This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing Qatar's digital ecosystem, supporting innovation, and contributing to economic diversification. We also commend the strong collaboration with Ashghal in realising this strategic milestone.' Delivered in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the infrastructure spans 60 projects and covers over 40,000 residential, commercial, and government premises nationwide. The rollout was governed by a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding between CRA and Ashghal, which formalised planning, construction, and transfer protocols. To date, more than 15,500 premises have been connected via the CRA-managed government telecom duct infrastructure. Ooredoo has utilised 468km of ducts to serve 2,010 consumers premises, while Vodafone Qatar has deployed 251km to connect 1,150 of its consumers. These figures underscore growing industry reliance on a shared national duct network as a foundation for reliable and scalable connectivity. CRA oversees access to the network through its Duct Management System (DMS), a GIS-based digital platform that facilitates real-time capacity visibility, application processing, and coordination for network extensions. This ensures transparency, efficiency, and alignment with national infrastructure policy. This access model enhances the quality of digital services for users, enabling high-performance connectivity that supports remote work, e-learning, and digital government services. It also fosters competition. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
CRA opens access to over 4,860 km of government telecommunication duct infrastructure across Qatar
Tribune News Network Doha The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has opened access to more than 4,860 kilometres of government telecom duct infrastructure across Qatar. This milestone forms part of CRA's broader regulatory mandate to optimise the use of national telecom assets, enable licensed service providers to scale their networks more efficiently, and support the delivery of high-quality digital services to homes and businesses. The initiative reflects CRA's strategic objective to promote fair and open access to essential telecom infrastructure, reducing duplicate deployments, improving investment efficiency, and accelerating the rollout of next-generation technologies such as fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and 5G. It directly supports Qatar's ambitions for a robust digital economy and future-ready connectivity ecosystem. Ali Al Suwaidi, director of the Technical Affairs Department at CRA, said: 'Ensuring equitable access to national telecom infrastructure is a core part of our regulatory mandate. It enables licensed service providers to scale efficiently and deliver reliable services that meet users' expectations. This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing Qatar's digital ecosystem, supporting innovation, and contributing to economic diversification. We also commend the strong collaboration with Ashghal in realizing this strategic milestone.' Delivered in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the infrastructure spans 60 projects and covers over 40,000 residential, commercial, and government premises nationwide. The rollout was governed by a 2014 memorandum of understanding between CRA and Ashghal, which formalised planning, construction, and transfer protocols. To date, more than 15,500 premises have been connected via the CRA-managed government telecom duct infrastructure. Ooredoo has utilised 468 kilometres of ducts to serve more than 2,010 consumers premises, while Vodafone Qatar has deployed 251 kilometres to connect 1,150 of its consumers. These figures underscore growing industry reliance on a shared national duct network as a foundation for reliable and scalable connectivity. CRA oversees access to the network through its Duct Management System (DMS), a GIS-based digital platform that facilitates real-time capacity visibility, application processing, and coordination for network extensions. This ensures transparency, efficiency, and alignment with national infrastructure policy. This access model enhances the quality of digital services for users, enabling high-performance connectivity that supports remote work, e-learning, and digital government services. It also fosters competition by making it easier for consumers to switch between service providers and improves the overall digital user experience. CRA, as the designated regulatory authority, continues to oversee the construction handover and regulated availability of government telecom ducts in coordination with relevant entities. These efforts are aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and aim to ensure sustainable infrastructure development and a thriving digital economy.
Qatar Tribune
06-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
CRA releases Position Paper on IoT, M2M technologies
DOHA: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has released a Position Paper on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technologies, aiming to foster innovation, enhance security, and drive Qatar's economic growth. Through this Position Paper, CRA intends to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework that ensures seamless connectivity, interoperability, and a secure digital landscape. This will enable Service Providers and businesses to operate under clear standards that support both investment and innovation. Furthermore, the Paper addresses existing regulatory gaps and meets evolving market needs by implementing mechanisms that balance regulatory oversight with necessary flexibility. This approach allows emerging technologies to scale efficiently while maintaining the highest levels of security and compliance. The pillars of this Position Paper positively impact various stakeholders. On one hand, consumers will experience improved reliability and security in IoT services, leading to safer and more efficient utilization of smart devices in their daily lives. On the other hand, Service Providers will benefit from clear regulatory guidelines, reducing uncertainty and facilitating smoother development and deployment of IoT and M2M technologies. Additionally, this Paper opens new horizons for businesses and investors by providing a regulatory environment that supports investment and expansion in digital markets, further strengthening Qatar's position as a leading hub for advanced technologies. In this context, Technical Affairs Department Director at CRA Ali Al Suwaidi emphasized the document's importance, saying, "IoT and M2M technologies are rapidly evolving and have become key enablers of smart cities, industrial automation, healthcare advancements, and environmental sustainability. Therefore, it has become essential to have a regulatory framework that keeps pace with digital transformations and ensures a secure and transparent environment that supports innovation." "The release of this Position Paper marks a significant milestone in Qatar's digital transformation journey, establishing advanced regulatory foundations that will stimulate an integrated digital economic environment, accelerate the transition towards a knowledge-based economy, and enhance the nation's global competitiveness in the technology sector," he noted. He further stated, "By providing an integrated regulatory environment for the IoT that aligns with the highest international standards and best practices, CRA reaffirms its commitment to developing an advanced digital market that supports innovation and sustainable growth. This strengthens Qatar's position as a leading regional hub in the digital technology sector, aligning with the Qatar National Vision 2030, the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, and the Digital Agenda 2030." CRA's IoT Position Paper serves as a foundation for future regulatory policies that will drive the deployment and adoption of IoT technologies in Qatar. As the country continues to embrace advanced digital solutions, the regulatory framework will work to balance between technological growth, consumer rights protection, and economic sustainability.
