Qatar ICT

Cyber security is high on the list of challenges that could prove a hurdle to Qatar’s economic development, although it is also being seen as an opportunity for potential growth in the information, communication and technology (ICT) industry.

The introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) in Qatar, a move the industry regulator says will boost competition, may indeed provide a boost for Vodafone Qatar, but with mobile penetration already at 165%, MBP may not be enough to completely level the playing field.

Seizing opportunities to build its position as a global centre for ICT, Qatar is focusing on niche markets where there is currently a lack of content and services.

A series of ongoing development programmes in information and communications technology (ICT) have resulted in rapidly improving technology indicators across the board in Qatar. With guidance from the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology, known as ictQATAR, the government’s industry regulator, the sector is primed to see future growth under a new national broadband network and development strategy.

With a move to become one of the first countries to offer non-Latin language scripts in domain names, Qatar is pushing forward with efforts to help accelerate the development of e-services and e-commerce environments throughout the Arabic-speaking world. In February, the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) announced that its website had became the first to use a Qatar-specific domain name in Arabic, with more Arabic domains set to be available for government entities and registered trademark holders starting in March.