Qatar Updates Guidelines for Radio Communications Sites to Support 5G and Future Technologies

The new Regulation provides a unified framework for planning and designing mobile network sites across Qatar, encouraging collaboration between licensed telecom service providers and government entities.

The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA)  has issued an updated Regulation for the Construction, Installation, and Sharing of Radio Communications Sites, aimed at enhancing safety, streamlining approvals, and enabling future-ready infrastructure sharing. The update follows extensive public consultation and engagement with multiple stakeholders to align international best practices with Qatar’s local requirements, improving transparency and efficiency in mobile network site development.

The new Regulation provides a unified framework for planning and designing mobile network sites across Qatar, encouraging collaboration between licensed telecom service providers and government entities. By consolidating three previous regulatory instruments into a single comprehensive guideline, it replaces prior rules governing the construction of radio stations, cellular base stations and towers, and mobile site sharing. This integration supports infrastructure sharing, reduces redundancy, and advances Qatar’s telecommunications landscape while protecting public health and the environment.

Under the updated framework, mandatory technical and safety standards are set for ground-based towers, rooftop and wall-mounted units, and temporary installations. The Regulation specifies safety distances, structural load capacities, and electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure limits, referencing international benchmarks. Whenever feasible, service providers are encouraged to co-locate and share infrastructure, maximizing resource efficiency. Early coordination with municipal authorities and developers is promoted to facilitate site selection and accelerate approvals, with CRA overseeing implementation through periodic audits, technical reports, and enforcement measures.

“This Regulation is a key step in enhancing telecommunications quality and consumer experience, supporting expanded coverage and faster deployment of 5G and other emerging technologies. By simplifying procedures and reducing deployment costs, it helps service providers operate more efficiently. Additionally, it reinforces government efforts to raise safety standards and environmental planning, aligning with CRA’s strategy to promote a sustainable, efficient telecom sector that directly contributes to achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.”

– Mr. Ali Al-Suwaidi, Technical Affairs Department Director, CRA