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Qatar issues licence to Elon Musk’s satellite broadband firm

By Pramod Kumar
QNA
The licence will allow Starlink to offer backup communications in Qatar in the event of a major outage in telecommunications networks.

Qatar’s telecom watchdog Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has issued an individual licence to Starlink Satellite Qatar, state-owned QNA reported.

The licence authorises US-based Starlink’s Qatar unit to provide satellite broadband Internet services to individuals and enterprises via the low-earth orbit satellite constellation of SpaceX.

Starlink will provide direct-to-consumer satellite Internet and premium services, targeting businesses and high-demand users.

The regulator said that the licence granted to Starlink will enhance the availability of telecommunications services in remote locations, such as oil and gas platforms at sea, ships, and aircraft, as well as provide backup communications throughout the Gulf nation in the event of a major outage in telecommunications networks.

FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar is set to begin on November 20 this year.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk last week said he would activate the firm’s satellite internet service, Starlink, in response to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s tweet that the United States took action “to advance internet freedom and the free flow of information” to Iranians.

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