Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) announced on Wednesday it has granted SpaceX a license to provide Starlink satellite internet service.
According to the CRA, SpaceX subsidiary Starlink Satellite Qatar was awarded an Individual License for the Provision of Public Satellite Telecommunications Networks and Services. The license was granted after consultation with stakeholders and other government departments.
The CRA said in a statement that the license will help to improve the availability of telecommunications services in remote areas of the country, particularly in areas such as oil and gas platforms at sea, ships, yachts, and aircrafts where internet is not fully available, and provide complementary and alternative telecommunications services for individuals and enterprise consumers.
“The grant of this license is consistent with international trends in the field. It contributes to the development of the Information and Communications Technology sector and encourages more foreign investments in the country; therefore, diversifying the national economy, which supports Qatar National Vision 2030,” the statement said. (via Gulf Times)
With the granting of the license in Qatar, SpaceX is now allowed to operate in two countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, a union that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
SpaceX received a license in Bahrain earlier this year.
The company has not announced when Starlink service will be available in Qatar or Bahrain, although the SpaceX availability map shows Qatar is expected to receive the service in Q1 2023, while Bahrain has a more general “2023” timeline.
