Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has launched a public consultation on a comprehensive review of the country’s radio spectrum fees framework, proposing targeted adjustments to its formula-based pricing regime and introducing new fee structures for emerging services.
The consultation outlines new fee tables for services such as Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite connectivity and extends spectrum pricing into higher frequency bands above 40 GHz. The proposals reflect Qatar’s intent to future-proof its spectrum policy while maintaining a stable, investment-friendly regulatory environment.
Of particular significance is the treatment of satellite services. For the first time, a regulator has explicitly proposed benchmarking terrestrial mobile spectrum fees as a reference point for setting satellite spectrum fees for D2D services. This signals a shift toward evaluating satellite pricing within the competitive dynamics of mobile networks, rather than treating satellite services in isolation, and could influence regulatory approaches in other markets.
The CRA proposes to retain its core formula-based approach, with several targeted updates. These include keeping the base spectrum value at QAR 130 per MHz without inflationary adjustment, extending frequency band factors to cover V, E, W, and D bands for future satellite, 5G, and 6G use cases, and introducing differentiated pricing between geostationary and non-geostationary satellite systems.
A new fee table is proposed for Mobile Satellite Services used for D2D communications in the L, S, and L/S bands, with pricing benchmarked against IMT mobile spectrum. Additional updates include revised fee tables for special-use categories such as Wi-Fi, radio-frequency cameras, and Programme Making and Special Events, as well as clearer distinctions between non-commercial test licences and commercial trials.
The CRA emphasises that most spectrum fees will remain unchanged in quantum, with adjustments focused on new services, new bands, and future-looking use cases rather than overall price increases.
The consultation highlights Qatar’s intent to balance regulatory stability with technological evolution. It explicitly addresses direct-to-device satellite connectivity, a rapidly emerging segment with implications for both mobile operators and satellite providers. It also extends pricing principles into millimetre-wave and sub-THz bands, laying groundwork for advanced satellite deployments and early 6G planning.
The CRA will continue to rely on administrative and incentive-based pricing rather than market-rate mechanisms, reinforcing a policy objective of encouraging network deployment and service quality.
At the same time, the consultation reflects a broader global trend. Markets with strong commercial potential are increasingly considering market-based assignment mechanisms, including auctions, for high-demand satellite bands such as L-band and S-band. As demand for D2D and mobile-satellite services grows, these frequencies may be viewed as strategic national assets, with implications for access costs, competition, and long-term investment strategies.
Stakeholders are invited to submit responses by 19 February 2026. Following the consultation, the CRA is expected to issue a new Ministerial Decision confirming the final spectrum fees framework and the effective date of any revisions.
