Wataniya Palestine gains long-awaited spectrum

Qtel chairman Al Thani says that despite repeated setbacks, he is convinced Wataniya Palestine will launch successfully now that spectrum is being allocated

Palestinian’s regulator has advised Wataniya Palestine that spectrum will be allocated, allowing the operator to launch commercial operations after repeated delays since March 2007.

The Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications and IT (MTIT) confirmed an agreement had been reached with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which would provide staged release of radio frequencies over the next several months, enabling construction to go ahead for the second entrant.

Wataniya Palestine is 51 per cent owned by Qatar Telecom (Qtel), and chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani said that despite delays in securing the required frequencies, Wataniya Telecom and Qtel have always been fully committed to the venture.

“We look forward to launching commercial operations in Palestine and we are very confident that Wataniya Palestine will be a success story that will attract other foreign investors to the Palestinian market,” he added.