Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Qatar 2017
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Qatar boasts a well-developed telecoms market, with high levels of internet use and smartphone ownership among the populace, as well as fast mobile and fibre-based internet connection speeds. The larger of the country’s two main telecoms operators has also emerged as a major force in the regional and international mobile telecoms market. The IT sector is less developed in some respects, with industry observers noting comparatively low penetration rates, particularly in the small and medium-sized enterprise segment. However, some fields, such as e-governance, are highly advanced, and a shift towards the use of the cloud and software-as-a-service is under way in the corporate sector. There are also efforts to develop the start-up scene, and Qatar is emerging as an important centre for computing-fo¬cused research, with several applied research projects already having been successfully commercialised. This chapter contains an interview with Ahmad Mohamed Al Kuwari, CEO, MEEZA.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Ahead of the game: Increasing connectivity and building up small tech businesses are priorities in the expansion of the sector
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Qatar boasts a well-developed telecommunications market, with high levels of internet use and smart-phone ownership among the populace, as well as fast mobile and fibre-based internet connection speeds. The larger of the country’s two main telecoms operators has also emerged as a major force in the regional and international mobile telecoms market. The IT sector is less developed in some respects, with industry observers noting comparatively low penetration rates, particularly in the small…

Analysis

A solid start: Incubators, free zones and funding initiatives are providing support for new tech businesses
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With its strong telecommunications infrastructure, and with rules in place to free tech start-ups from local ownership requirements, Qatar is a natural home for ICT entrepreneurship. However, the country’s start-up segment has faced challenges, not least a shortage of private sector investors willing to invest in high-risk propositions, given the availability of less volatile options. “Private investors tend to prefer to put their money in less risky segments, such as real estate, and…

Interview

Tech revelations: Ahmad Mohamed Al Kuwari, CEO, MEEZA, on how the country’s digital landscape is facilitating growth
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Interview:Ahmad Mohamed Al Kuwari What is your assessment of the innovation ecosystem for smart city technology within Qatar? AHMAD MOHAMED AL KUWARI: The innovation currently taking place in Qatar is supported by partnerships with important players in the segment. As the IT management system provider, we are creating a unique experience here in Qatar, through major smart development projects such as Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD). We ultimately want to give something back to our country, something…