Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Qatar 2015
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The telecoms sector in Qatar has grown at a rapid pace over the past decade and today boasts at least 100% mobile penetration, 93% laptop ownership, 65% smartphone ownership and 29% tablet penetration. Data services have underpinned revenue growth in recent years and are expected to continue driving demand and revenues in the mobile segment. Meanwhile, the take-up of IT services has been increasing rapidly in the state, with 85% of the population accessing the internet in 2013, compared with 38% in 2008. IT is regarded as a key sector moving forward, and the country has seen a strong push to encourage SMEs, which make up 97% of Qatar’s private sector, to use IT solutions, particularly in terms of cloud computing.

This chapter contains interviews with Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Information and Communications Technology; and Rashid Fahad Al Naimi, CEO, Qatar Foundation Investments, and Chairman, MEEZA.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Qatar’s telecoms providers expand operations
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The telecoms sector in Qatar has grown at a tremendous rate over the last decade. Mobile phones are now virtually ubiquitous across the country, while the use of other communications technologies such as smartphones, tablet computers and broadband internet connections continues to increase in popularity. Significant public sector investments have helped establish Qatar as one of the most “network ready” countries in the world with an advanced ICT infrastructure backbone that supports…

Analysis

Telecoms providers in Qatar build infrastructure networks
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Developing telecommunications has been a priority for Qatar. Ooredoo, formerly Qatar Telecom (Qtel), led investment for several decades until the government sought to eliminate Qtel’s monopoly. Competition was introduced through legislations which increased private sector participation, leading to Vodafone’s entry. The World Economic Forum’s “Global Information Technology Report” for 2014 highlights the impact of these early investments, ranking Qatar first in “government procurement…

Interview

Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, Former Minister of Information and Communications Technology: Interview
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Interview:Hessa Sultan Al Jaber How will the recently launched Qatar e-Government 2020 Strategy facilitate a more conducive business environment and reduce red tape? HESSA SULTAN AL JABER: The Qatar e-Government 2020 Strategy is designed to transform the government of Qatar into an online government. The positive impact will be felt across all sectors. Companies and private organisations will find it easier, simpler and faster to register and operate a business. Qatar’s strategy for economic…

Overview

New developments in IT put to good use in Qatar
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Tremendous economic growth over the last few decades, supported by an ambitious national vision to develop the economy into one that is knowledge-based, has helped drive significant growth in the country’s nascent IT sector. Reports from the government support this assessment, highlighting that the ICT sector is on track to record 10% annual growth to reach QR24.7bn ($6.77bn) by 2016. “Investments in the sector have been manifested in a sustainable growth over the last few years,” Hessa…

Interview

Rashid Fahad Al Naimi, CEO, Qatar Foundation Investments, and Chairman, MEEZA: Interview
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Interview:Rashid Fahad Al Naimi Given the unique and advancing role of cloud services in the market, how has the IT industry locally adapted to meet growing demand? RASHID FAHAD AL NAIMI: Cloud service provisions have been steadily growing in Qatar. For instance, at MEEZA between 2013 and 2014, we doubled the number of seats on our cloud. We now have over 10,000 seats on the cloud, and that number continues to grow daily. We have reached over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)…

Analysis

Qatar ensures support for SMEs
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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up the vast majority of business in Qatar, as is the case in the broader MENA region. Enterprise Qatar, the state-backed SME support vehicle that was established in 2011 and has since been absorbed by Qatar Development Bank, reported that SMEs constitute some 97% of the private sector. Qatar Development Bank further notes that between 8000 and 10,000 SMEs currently operate in the country, contributing some 15% to 17% of non-oil GDP, markedly…