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.
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.
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.
