Analysis: IT Strengths and Weaknesses

            Qatar's telecommunications system is one of the most advanced in the world.  Most of the infrastructure has been put in place in the last 20 years.  This is a incredible feat when considering that Qatar is a relatively new country (independence granted in 1971).  The following is a timetable of the development of telecommunications in QATAR:

  1949     FIRST EXCHANGE IN DOHA
  1976     EARTH STATION (DOHA-I) ESTABLISHED
  1982     MOBILE AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE(MATS) SER VICE STARTED
  1985     DOHA COAST STATION OPENED
  1987     QATAR PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS  CORPORATION FOUNDED
  1990     NEW Q-TEL HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OPENED
  1991     FIRST PUBLIC PAY-PHONES
  1992     NATIONWIDE PAGING SERVICE   INTRODUCED
  1993     QATAR CABLEVISION (QCV) - CABLE TV LAUNCHED
  1994     QATARNET - GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR  MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS
              (GSM) SERVICES   LAUNCHED.
  1996     INTERNET SERVICE LAUNCHED

            Qatar has made tremendous advancements in its telecommunications and IT infrastructure in the last 10 years and is continuing to be a leader in the Gulf.  Thorough its implementation of national GIS system, QATAR has become a model for the rest of the world. Qatar is continuing to modernize its infrastructure in order to help in its development.  Due to the small size of the country and its small population, Qatar has an advantage over other nations in infrastructure.  Qatar is able to invest in the latest technologies without having to spend enormous amount of capital unlike the United States and other larger countries.   Size is the key.  Qatar is able to finance these projects thanks to its large petro-revenues.  Qatar is also sitting on the 3rd largest natural gas reserve in the world, which, if developed, make this small desert kingdom the wealthiest in the Gulf.

Strengths:

• Small population and country, making investments in the latest infrastructure technologies possible and cost effective.
• Educated work force (most Qatari students study abroad at the post secondary level).  Access to foreign labor mainly from other Arab countries and Asian countries.
• Strong legal system, safeguarding property rights and making investments in Qatar possible.
• Government initiatives such as GIS and automation and computerization of government agencies.
• relatively young population that is growing up with the latest technologies.  This would spur development and use of new technologies.
• Large revenues from oil and in the future of natural gas that will increase GDP per inhabitant and living standards.
• Growth in Arabic software packages in QATAR and Arabic speaking countries for business and other uses.

Weaknesses:

• Q-tel is a natural monopoly that control  telecommunication  and Internet Access.  This would limit foreign and local investment in telecommunications and Internet gateways.
• No manufacturing of hardware and software in the country.

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