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Chapter 3Featured Insight 4:Towards BroadbandImplementation in QatarQatar’s National Broadband Plan(QNBP) was released late in 2013.It provides the guidelines andactions Qatar needs to follow overthe next decade to ensure theopportunities offered by broadbandtechnology are maximized. Theplan aims to support and promotebroadband market development,involving multi-stakeholdersfrom both the public and privatesectors, to ensure both supply anddemand sides are addressed.The Plan should help providehigh-quality, affordable and highspeedbroadband services to all,in order to support the human,social, economic and environmentaldevelopment of Qatar, for thebenefit of both the nation and itsresidents. To track the fulfilment ofthe National Broadband initiative,Qatar’s Plan proposes four targets:• Everyone should be able to choosebetween at least two broadbandproviders by 2016.• 95% of households should havethe ability to access affordable andhigh-quality broadband serviceof at least 100 Mbit/s effectivedownload and 50 Mbit/s effectiveupload speeds by 2016.• All businesses, schools, hospitalsand government institutions areto have high-quality access to atleast 1 Gbit/s effective symmetricalspeeds by 2016.• Digital literacy is to be expandedto the whole population by 2016,along with guarantees aboutusers’ digital privacy, protectionof personal data, and freedom ofopinion and expression.Four action areas were identified askey to achieve the plan’s targets:(1) supporting healthy competition;(2) efficient management ofresources; (3) ensuring take-up;(4) maximizing the benefits ofbroadband. Forty detailed andstakeholder-specific policy actionshave been defined in a Roadmap,with clear responsibilities definedfor all stakeholders. Thirteen workinggroups will lead the implementationof specific policy actions in eachsector, with cooperation from thededicated Program ManagementOffice, under the supervision ofa high-level National BroadbandSteering Committee to ensure thatactions are implemented.In addition, Qatar is introducingits 2020 E-Government Strategy &National Cyber Security Strategy, aswell as a unique Strategy addressingthe needs of people with disabilitiesfor assistive technology throughthe Ministry’s Center for AssistiveTechnology (Mada). Qatar realizesthat, while increasing demand forbroadband is vital for its economy, itsunique position and characteristicsmake it a lucrative target for cyberattacks,hence its focus on deliveringa holistic and safe digital ecosystem.These strategies also contribute tothe implementation of QNBP, as theyaddress vital policy actions.Source: H.E. Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, Minister ofInformation & Communication Technology,Qatar.36