The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) recently
announced a drastic reduction in fees for VHF Radio for small ships and
dual-band radio for hunting.
The Cabinet approved the CRA’s proposal for
decreasing the costs from QAR 500 to QAR 100 per year for the annual license
fees.
The newly approved lower cost is effective as of June 15,
2016, when the Cabinet supported the changes as published in the Official Gazette
no. 7.
“After a careful review of the fee structure for these
particular radio spectrum licenses, we concluded that it was in the best
interest of the public to reduce the fees for these two types of licenses to
QAR 100,” Mohammed Al-Mannai, president of CRA, said. “This will allow more
people to apply for and secure these licenses.”
Anyone who personally uses a radio communication device or utilizes
the frequencies through the equipment, must have an effective radio spectrum
license or a radio frequency authorization from the CRA, according to Qatar’s
2006 Telecom Law. To use the equipment mentioned without a valid license is
illegal, and the radios used could be confiscated.
CRA manages the communications and information technology
and postal sectors, as well as access to digital media, in the state of Qatar
while acting as the communications regulator as put into motion by the Emiri
Decree (42) in 2014. The goal of the CRA is to protect consumer rights, support
competition, manage the electromagnetic spectrum as well as the resolution of
disputes, according to the Emiri decree. Finally, the CRA aims to facilitate
futuristic and reliable ICT and postal sector products and services throughout
Qatar.
