The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) issued on 22 December 2010 two individual VSAT Licenses to QSAT Communications and RigNet Qatar for the provision of very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) networks and services in the State of Qatar.
These two companies (in addition to CapRock Communications) were selected following a competitive license application process that ictQATAR conducted earlier this year. CapRock will receive its license in the coming weeks when it has completed the license issuance requirements.
The licenses authorize the operation of a VSAT network and the provision of VSAT services to Closed User Groups. The VSAT operators will not be able to provide public telecommunications services to businesses or consumers.
VSAT is a wireless, satellite-based system that can support organizations, with dispersed offices and remote sites, to have internal telecommunications (voice and data) links. It is commonly used by large organizations with multiple and remote locations, such as banks, retail stores and gas and oil companies. It is particularly useful in Qatar for off-shore gas and oil platforms to communicate with on-shore offices.
The QSAT license is available at this link, and the RigNet is available at this link.