Doha, March 12, 2025: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has launched a public consultation on the Standard Offer for Access to Submarine Cable Landing Stations (SCLS) in Qatar and the related guidelines.
This is a second round of consultation building on stakeholders’ insights and feedback received through the initial consultation on “CRA Reference Offer for Access to Submarine Cable Landing Station International Connectivity Services”. Based on industry feedback and concerns, CRA has refined the draft SCLS offer (now referred to as a Standard Offer for Access) and related guidelines to enhance competition and improve access to international connectivity services across all SCLS.
The revised documents include the minimum mandatory requirements for the Standard Offer of Access (SOA) to SCLS to be submitted by the SCLS Owners and the process for developing an Access Agreement between the SCLS Owner and the Other Licensed Service Providers. Additionally, an updated version of the guidelines has been refined with modifications aimed at improving them compared to the first public consultation document.
This consultation is part of CRA’s ongoing work to enhance Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector regulatory framework aiming at fostering market competition and growth through improved access to international connectivity services across all SCLS. This initiative reflects CRA’s commitment to promote a regulatory environment that supports competitiveness, transparency, and efficiency in the telecommunications sector, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Digital Agenda 2030.
CRA invites all stakeholders to submit their feedback on the public consultation by March 23, 2025, via email to ra************@cr*.qa , using the format specified in the Annex of the consultation document. The revised SCLS and related guidelines are available on CRA’s website via the following link:
https://www.cra.gov.qa/document/standard-offer-for-access-to-submarine-cable-landing-station
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About CRA:
CRA regulates the telecommunications, information technology, and postal sectors, as well as access to digital media in the State of Qatar. CRA works to ensure that government institutions, companies, and individuals in the country have access to a wide range of innovative, advanced, and reliable services. It applies all its regulatory powers to promote competition in the sectors it regulates while also working to protect consumer rights
