ICT

Twenty years ago, Qatar’s leadership set out to liberalize the country’s telecoms sector, transforming its state-run monopoly operator into a market-driven firm. This was part of an effort to transition the Qatari economy away from its traditional mainstays, oil and gas. To that end, the ICT sector has been instrumental to a broader process that continues today. As state and private players team up to roll out advanced infrastructure and increase ICT device penetration, they are driving growth in one of the country’s most dynamic non-energy sectors, improving communications, and building up infrastructure and expertise vital for the development of a knowledge economy.

This chapter contains interviews with Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, President, Communications Regulatory Authority; and Ian Gray, CEO, Vodafone Qatar.