Doha, October 12, 2025: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) announced that Qatar Airways has activated Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) within its digital infrastructure, with regulatory support from CRA, to accelerate the adoption of IPv6 across key sectors. This milestone comes as part of a comprehensive roadmap aimed at enhancing Qatar’s digital readiness, aligning with the latest international standards, and meeting the requirements of the digital economy.
IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol, responsible for identifying devices, connecting them, and enabling data transfer across networks. It provides an enormous number of addresses compared to previous versions, making it a pivotal element in the development of communications networks. IPv6 also supports the expansion of smart and connected services while enhancing readiness for the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, Smart cities, and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions.
As the entity overseeing the IPv6 Qatar Taskforce, CRA closely monitored Qatar Airways’ transition from Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) to IPv6 across its networks, ensuring that the transition adhered to approved regulatory, technical, and security guidelines. This process reflects CRA’s coordinating role in enhancing the integration of Qatar’s national communications infrastructure. Qatar Airways executed the IPv6 transition through a well-thought-out plan, enhancing its digital readiness for future requirements and serving as a benchmark for other organizations.
In this context, Mr. Ali Al Suwaidi, Director of Technical Affairs at CRA, stated: “The activation of IPv6 by Qatar Airways represents a significant milestone achievement, reflecting the close collaboration between CRA and the members of the IPv6 Qatar Taskforce. It also demonstrates Qatar Airways’ readiness and the integration of its digital infrastructure, positioning it as a model within the national taskforce.”
Al-Suwaidi further emphasized CRA’s commitment to supporting all stakeholders in the transition to IPv6 through awareness-raising, technical assistance, and strengthened institutional coordination. He noted that the transition to this protocol is a strategic necessity for developing communications networks and enhancing data security, thereby enhancing the readiness of the national infrastructure and reinforcing Qatar’s position as a leading digital hub, all in alignment with CRA’s strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030.
Qatar Airways Chief Information Officer, Mr. Suhail Kamil Kadri, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with the Communications Regulatory Authority in advancing IPv6 adoption, a milestone that underscores our commitment to innovation and digital transformation. This achievement reflects our alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030 and highlights the importance of secure, resilient, and future-ready digital infrastructure. By embracing this next generation of connectivity, we set a new benchmark for sustainability and operational excellence within the aviation industry.”
According to data from the Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), Qatar has made significant progress in adopting IPv6. This advancement serves as a positive indicator, emphasizing the importance of accelerating institutional and technical adoption of IPv6 to keep pace with the evolution of digital services and enhancing the readiness of the national communications infrastructure.
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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.
About Qatar Airways:
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for an unprecedented ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation,
Skytrax. Qatar Airways was previously named the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024.
The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, and has yet again received recognition for ‘World’s Best Business Class’, and ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’. As the leading connector in the region, Qatar Airways has also been lauded with the ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ title for the 13 time.
Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax. Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Qatar Airways was the first Airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001). As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.
