Telecommunications in Qatar are handled by Qatar Telecom, (QTEL), and Vodafone. QTEL had a complete monopoly on providing communication services in the country till Vodafone, which provide services such as mobile, fixed lines, Internet and entertainment, entered the market in March 2009.
Qtel is a modern and very well organised company. Local and foreign residents have to be 18 years or older to apply for a Qtel landline. Take a copy of your national ID and passport or residence permit to any Qtel communication centre. For residential landlines there is a one off connection fee of QR 250, with a standard bimonthly rental charge of QR 35. All local calls, landline to landline are free. Landline to mobile cost QR 0.45 peak times and QR 0.30 off peak. All residential calls are charged at 1 minute intervals.
International call charges are quite steep, but during off peak hours it is a little lesser. International calls are charged at 15 second intervals. Peak rates apply from 7:00am to 7:00pm from Saturday to Thursday. Off peak rates are from 7:00pm to 7:00am Saturday to Thursday and all day on Friday.
Mobile telephony is widespread and of excellent quality. The system used, as in most of the world, is GSM. MMS, WEP and GSRM services are also on hand, and 3G services are being tested and are available. Qtel also has roaming contracts with many countries in the world, so if you’re coming on a short trip to Qatar, or you have a Qatari mobile subscription and you travel to Europe or Asia, chances are that your telephone will work. Qtel offers regular subscription lines for GSM (post-paid) with a number of value packages (Shahry) and also easy to obtain post-paid cards (HALA).
Qtel also provides cable TV network, with a large selection of international channels. Satellite antennas and receivers are allowed and available everywhere. QTEL’s cable offerings are very economical and also family-oriented, with a carefully selected choice of channels. QTel is now the only internet service provider in Qatar. They have recently launched a new scheme, Mozaic, where you can avail of three services i.e. cable, ADSL internet and landline services in one package for QR 250 with a registration fee of QR 300.
International Courier Service in Qatar
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You can find most of the top International courier service providers here in Qatar. Whether your sending documents to Qatar or your home country you will find it is fairly simple.
There are a number of companies that offer reasonably priced door to door delivery services - especially to the Philippines, India and a few other Asian countries. There are also a few relocation services here that can handle shipping to Qatar without you having to check on all the tiresome details - like the customs and port clearance.
| Fed Ex |
466 1722 |
| DHL |
458 7888 |
| Aramex |
442 6101 |
| UPS |
432 2444 |
| TNT |
462 1511 |
| First Flight Couriers |
431 3830 |
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Postal
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The Post Office in Qatar began operating in 1950 with a staff of just 6. In May 1963 the State of Qatar took full responsibility for its own postal services. From that date, what is now the General Postal Corporation (GPC) has improved its services to the public against a rapidly increasing population at a vast and almost unprecedented rate of development.
It has a new purpose-built sorting centre and headquarters equipped with the latest technologically advanced equipment, designed to cater to the country’s growing requirements.
Website: www.qpost.com.qa
P. O. Box
PO Boxes can be rented from any post office offering this service.
The subscriber should complete an application form which can be obtained from the post office or online at www.qatarpost.com. To open a PO box at the Head Office branch you will need:
- Copy of a valid ID card (for companies and organizations the documents must include a copy of commercial registration or trade license)
- Completed Application Form (available at all locations of Qpost) and the required Fee
Head Office annual subscription fees(2008)
| Box Type |
Renewal Fees |
New Box With eCards Fees |
Personal
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QR. 300 |
QR. 360 |
| Companies |
QR. 500 |
QR. 560 |
Other Branches annual subscription fees (2008)
| Box Type |
Renewal Fees |
New Box with 3 Keys |
| Personal |
QR. 200 |
QR. 260 |
| Companies |
QR. 500 |
QR. 560 |
The electronic cards are used for opening your box located at the head office. There are 3 types available, white, silver and gold. All 3 cards vary with cost. You are given 1 card with the white, the silver 2 and the gold 3 cards.
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Net
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Website: www.qtel.com.qa
The only internet service provider in Qatar is QTel. Internet connections offered by QTEL range from regular dial-up to ADSL and leased lines. Although more expensive than in Europe or the US, QTEL's ADSL offerings for individuals are excellent. They range from 500 Kbps for a flat fee of QR 200/month to fantastic 2Mbps for only 400 QR/month.
QTEL delivers and installs the ADSL modem for you, and modems used are Alcatel (now Thomson) Speed Touch. They work on both PC and MAC, although if you''re MAC user you''ll have to figure out the installation yourself (Qtel technicians are often not very familiar with MAC operating systems).
Qtel Hotspots
Qtel now operate a hotspot service which enables the user to use Broadband Wireless Internet wherever they see the sign displayed. Qtel presently have 22 internet hotspots locations in service including three parks, Dalal Al Hamam Park, Rumeilah (Al Bidda) Park, and North Corniche Park (Sheraton).
Some of the other Internet hotspots are Eli France Café, La Maison du Café, Mint Café, Le Notre Café, Fauchon Paris, Grand Café, Crepaway and the Diplomatic Club.
Prepaid hotspot cards can be purchased throughout various hotspots or distributing outlets. Prices range from QR 5 to QR 70. For further information contact Qtel hotspot on 440 0007, www.qtelhotspot.net.qa
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