Law No 13 of 1987 on the establishment of Qatar Public Telecommunications Corporation

Law Summary Record Type: LawNumber: 13Date: 23/05/1987 Corresponding to 25/09/1407 HijriNumber of Articles: 71Status: In force
Official Gazette :Issue: 6Offcial Journal Issue Publication Date: 01/01/1987 Corresponding to 01/05/1407 HijriPage from: 3326
طباعة
 
  • Part 1 (1-1)
    • Definitions (1-1)
  • Part 2 (2-4)
    • The Establishment of the Corporation and its aims (2-4)
  • Part 3 (5-18)
    • Management of the Corporation (5-18)
  • Part 4 (19-23)
    • Capital, Profits and Reserves (19-23)
  • Part 5 (24-28)
    • The Corporation 's Budget and Accounts (24-28)
  • Part 6 (29-39)
    • Procurement and use of Wireless Equipment and Frequencies (29-39)
  • Part 7 (40-43)
    • Production, commerce and maintenance of wireless equipment (40-43)
  • Part 8 (44-45)
    • Fees (44-45)
  • Part 9 (46-50)
    • Conditions and Remuneration for Service and Maintenance (46-50)
  • Part 10 (51-52)
    • Patronage of the Service Lines (51-52)
  • Part 11 (53-54)
    • Restitution for Damage to Service Lines (53-54)
  • Part 12 (55-58)
    • Supervision and Penalties (55-58)
  • Part 13 (59-71)
    • General and Transitional Provisions (59-71)



We, Khalifa bin Hamd Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, 
Upon consideration of the Amended Provisional Constitution, in particular articles 23, 34 and 51 thereof;
Law No. 2 of 1962 on the regulation of the general fiscal policy in Qatar, 
The Civil Service Law issued by Decree No. 9 of 1967, amending laws, and implementing regulations thereof;
Law No. 5 of 1970 defining the powers of ministers and the delegation of responsibilities to the ministries and other government agencies, and amending laws thereof;
Law No. 10 of 1970 defining the authority exercised by appointment to and removal from public offices;
Law No. 13 of 1971 on the system of the Courts of Justice, and amending laws thereof;
Law No. 14 of 1971 enacting the Penal Code of Qatar;
Law No. 15 of 1971 enacting the law of Criminal Procedures; 
Law No. 16 of 1971 enacting the law of civil and commercial provisions as amended by Law No. 10 of 1972;
Law No. 5 of 1973 establishing the Audit Bureau;
Law No. 7 of 1974 regulating the accounting audit profession, and the implementing regulations

Part 1

Definitions

Article 1

In the application of the provisions of this law, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings set out below in respect of each, except where the context requires otherwise:
“The Corporation”: means Qatar Public Telecommunications Corporation (Q-Tel).
“The Board”: means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
“Member”: means the Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
“Telecommunications”: means the sending, transmission or receiving, of codes, signalling, or writings, images, voice or other data, of whatever type, through cables, radio, by way of optical apparatus or other electromagnetic systems.
 
“Public Communications Network”: means the telecommunication equipment, stations, networks and grid which the Corporation possesses.
“Communications equipment”: means the Public Communications Network and any communications apparatus connected thereto, and any other communications apparatus which may connect thereto.
“Station”: means an apparatus, or more than one or a collection of the same, for sending or receiving to apparatus connected to it, which are necessary in the circumstances, for transmission service of the communication. The station may be fixed or mobile.
“Wireless apparatus”: means any wireless apparatus for sending or receiving, of whatever power, except for receiving voice or visual airplay, so that it be primarily used, or may be used in transmitting, conveying or receiving voice, images, written words, signalling, code or anything else, through electromagnetic waves or frequencies.
“The International Rules”: any rules, guidance, orders, regulations, recommendations, guidance, provisions,
Determination, customs or definitions, or any other technical requirements set out in conventions of the international union for Telecommunications, and the Arab Union for Telecommunications, or any other conventions ratified by the State of Qatar, and whatever supplements may be subordinate thereto, as well as resolutions and recommendations.
The provisions of these international rules shall have primacy over any other specific rules on cable and wireless communication which the Council of Ministers shall determine, based on the proposal of the Corporation.
“Amateurs”: Anyone who is allowed wireless equipment for sending or receiving, with the intention of satisfying a desire for wireless communication, or for producing wireless equipment, disassembling, or assembling the same or things related thereto, without regard to material benefit or commercial profit, or methods of communication forbidden by the provisions of the international  rules, or the provisions of this law or any other law or any regulations or regulatory resolutions to be issued in the future.
“Private Use”: means the use of wireless equipment in the carrying out of private activities by any natural or legal person.
“Frequency”: means the electromagnetic waves which are used in wireless communications.
“Schedule”: means the schedule of service lines and compensation annexed to this law.
“Service lines”: means the lines set out in the schedule and any amendments which may be made to them, in accordance with the provisions of this law.


 

Part 2

The Establishment of the Corporation and its aims

Article 2

A Public Independent Corporation shall be established, with a legal personality, named 'Qatar Public Telecommunications Corporation', and its principal base shall be in the city of Doha. It shall be permitted to establish branches, offices or agencies thereof in Qatar or abroad.
The Corporation shall be managed on a commercial basis.


 

Article 3

The Corporation shall be exclusively responsible for the transmission of Telecommunications, as well as the use, preservation and development of Telecommunications systems within the State, including between this State and abroad, in accordance with the provisions of this law.
In the execution of its objectives the Corporation shall have the power to undertake all activities which are conducive thereto, including but not limited to the following examples:
  1. Establishing, preserving and using devoted local and national telegraph, telephone and telex networks and leased circuits.
  2. The management and provision of telephone, telex, facsimile services, as well as the leasing and co-operation within the same.
  3. The planning, installation and procurement of equipment and facilities for transmission and reception relating to the activities of the Corporation  
  1. Installing, preserving and using networks for conveying images, on the condition that the same not comprise television and radio programmes, or broadcasting thereof.
  2. Defining and determining the technical specifications of the communications equipment the use of which shall be licenced within the State.
  3. Issuing licences or private authorisations for the importation, procurement, trade, production or use or utilisation of communications equipment.
  4. Preparing studies and plans relating to the technical and economic development of Telecommunications systems.
  5. Working on expanding and developing the Telecommunications systems, by way of more modern equipment, supplies and facilities which lead to perfect communication.
  6. Administering and regulating cable and wireless frequencies through city-wide and local authorities, and issuing licences for use of the same frequencies in accordance with the provisions of this law and the resolutions implementing the same, within the limits determined by the international rules.
  7. Being responsible for the operational supervision on a local aerial basis, and the protection of radio communications from interception and interference.
  8. The development of sales services, and preparation and implementation of training courses, in the field of Telecommunications.
  9. The preparation, printing and distribution, or the authorisation of the preparation, printing and distribution of a telephone directory, business directory, advertisements, information and data, and other things relating to communications activities or the services provided by the Corporation , whether it be for the purposes of information, commerce, advertising or any other purpose.
  10. Co-operating with regional, Arab and international authorities, unions and entities relating to Telecommunications, and representing the State in respect of these agencies.


 

Article 4

The Corporation may, in the course of pursuing its purposes, undertake the following:
  1. Founding companies independently or with others
  2. Owning companies or shares therein.
  3. Entering into contracts with companies or authorities pursuing business similar to its own, or capable of assisting in the fulfilling its purposes, as well as partnership, in any form, with the same, or purchase thereof or joining therewith.
  4. Investing or assigning its capital in areas which shall increase that capital or yield some benefit to the Corporation which will assist in the fulfilment of its purposes.
 
The assumption of other things provided this is in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of this Law.


 

Part 3

Management of the Corporation

Article 5

A Board of Directors shall be responsible for the management of the Corporation, and shall consist of the President, Vice President and a number of members, whose appointment, quorum, term of membership, remuneration, shall be determined by resolution of the Emir.


 

Article 6

The Board of Directors shall have all the necessary authority to manage the affairs of the Corporation and shall manage the disbursements which the good functioning thereof shall require. In addition it may make what resolutions it deems necessary for the fulfilment of the Corporation's purposes.  
Such resolutions of the Board of Directors shall be effective from the date of issue, save resolutions relating to matters specified below, which shall not be valid until the Council of Ministers has ratified the same:
  1. The acquisition by the Corporation of any loan, whether domestic or foreign.
  2. The acceptance of gifts, legacies or donations.
  3. The founding of companies, independently or with others, and the acquisition of companies or shares therein.


 

Article 7

The Board of Directors shall, without limiting rules, regulations in effect in the Government or internal regulations, set down the financial, administrative and technical requirements necessary for the management thereof. This shall include rules for its funds, inviting bids and procurement, and the rules relating to the people working in the Corporation, including rules for joining and for remuneration at the end of their service.
These rules shall not come into effect until ratification by the Council of Ministers.


 

Article 8

The Board of Directors shall submit to the Council of Ministers an annual report on the activities of the Corporation in every regard, accompanied with its own proposals, opinions and recommendations.
The Council of Ministers may, at any time, request the Board of Directors to submit reports thereto on the technical, financial, administrative, regulatory status of the Corporation, or its status in any other aspect of its activities, or any other information of a general form relating to the same.


 

Article 9

The Council of Ministers may issue general guidance to the Board of Director, regarding what it is required to pursue in affairs relating to general policy, and the Board of Directors must be bound by this guidance.


 

Article 10

The President, or Vice President, shall represent the Corporation before the Courts and in its relations with third parties.


 

Article 11

a)      The Board of Directors shall meet on the invitation of the President, or in his absence the Vice President, at least six times each year, just as it shall meet whenever a request is made by at least three of the members thereof.
  1. The meeting of the Board shall not be valid unless at least three members are present, with the President or the Vice President being among them.
  2. The general secretarial activities of the Board shall be undertaken by a secretary whom the Board shall elect, and whose functions it shall define.


 

Article 12

a)      The Board shall issue resolutions by a majority of votes cast by the members being present, and in the event of a tie the President shall cast the deciding vote.
  1. The Board of Director's meetings shall be confidential, and it neither attendance by proxy nor voting by proxy shall be permitted.
  2. The attendance and resolutions of the Board shall be recorded in a special record, which the President of the Board and its members shall all sign.


 

Article 13

The Board of Directors shall have the power to summon the Director-General of the Corporation, or any of its employees or other person with knowledge or expertise, to attend a meeting of the Board and to provide information and clarification.
The Board shall summon the supervisor of the accounts upon sight of the financial reports or matters relating to the budget. The supervisor of the accounts shall be permitted to seek confirmation of his opinion in attendance of a meeting.
It shall not be permitted for any of these persons to participate in the voting on resolutions of the Board.


 

Article 14

The President, or in his absence the Vice President, shall have the right to sign on behalf of the Board of Director.
The Board of Directors shall have the right, in situations where the Director-General or another person working within the Corporation has the right, individually or as a group, in matters which the Board of Directors shall define and in accordance with the provisions of internal regulations.


 

Article 15

Documents from the Corporation shall not be considered signed unless endorsed by the signature of the President of the Board of Director, or the Vice President or a person authorised to sign.


 

Article 16

The Chairperson of the Board, or a member thereof, or any person working for the Corporation may not derive any personal benefit, direct or indirect, in the contracts which are made with the Corporation, or from the accounts of the projects it undertakes, or in the fields of its activities.


 

Article 17

The Corporation shall have a Director-General, appointed by resolution of the Emir on the recommendation of the Board of Director.


 

Article 18

The Director-General, under the supervision of the Board of Directors and its guidance, shall be responsible for the implementation of the resolutions of the Board of Director.
Internal regulations shall define the functions and duties of the Director-General. He shall be responsible to the Board of Directors for the performance of these functions and duties.


 

Part 4

Capital, Profits and Reserves

Article 19

The Corporation's licenced capital shall be one thousand million Qatari Riyals, entirely owned by the State.
It shall be permitted to increase or decrease the capital by resolution of the Council of Ministers, issued on the recommendation of the Corporation's Board of Director.


 

Article 20

From the date of the coming into force of this law, the State's share in the Qatari National Telephone Service, as well as everything in existence owned by the state in the field of Telecommunications, including but not limited to land, buildings, signalling stations, installations, lines, apparatus, fixtures and other things, except for anything which the Council of Ministers shall exempt in this regard, shall belong to the Corporation.
This property and other objects shall be considered part of the capital referred to in the preceding article. And the Council of Ministers may resolve on a fashion, nature and appointed time for payments for the remaining capital. The same may resolve that payments are part of the capital, or any part derived thereby.


 

Article 21

The profits shall be clearly defined each financial year, after the subtraction of all spending and disbursements necessary for the pursuit of the activities of the Corporation from the income obtained, and in particular amounts necessary for any of the purposes which the Corporation shall authorise and which are approved by the Council of Ministers.


 

Article 22

  1. The Corporation shall have general reserve funds, to which 10 % of the annual net profits shall be added so that it shall come to constitute part of the putative capital.
  2. It shall be permitted to increase the reserve funds referred to in this article to the extent and in the manner determined by resolution of the Corporation and on approval of the Council of Ministers.
  3. It shall be permitted, by resolution of the Council of Ministers, based on the proposal of the Board of Director, to constitute other reserve funds necessary for the fulfilment of the purposes of the Corporation.
  4. It shall not be permitted to make disbursements from the general reserves, or other reserves, except by resolution of the Council of Ministers, based on a proposal by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
  5. The annual net profit remaining thereafter shall belong to the state.


 

Article 23

 
The capital resources of the Corporation shall comprise the following:
a Funds and credit assigned thereto by the state.
b revenues of the Corporation 's shares  in the capital of other companies, institutions and utilities which it shall establish, own or have some share in, or which belongs thereto by sale or amortization.
c What belongs thereto by way of net profits in the form of apportioned reserves.
d What is owed thereto by way of loans.
e Gifts, endowments and donations .


 

Part 5

The Corporation 's Budget and Accounts

Article 24

 
The Corporation shall have an annual budget and estimated budget, to be approved by resolution of the Council of Ministers, and it shall be prepared in the form of a commercial budget.
 
The Corporation's financial year shall begin on the first of January and end on the 31 December of each year, with the first year comprising the period from the date of the coming into effect of this law until the 31 of December of the following year.


 

Article 25

The Board of Directors must, no later than six months from the date of the end of each financial year, prepare a detailed budget, including account of profit and loss, as well as a report regarding the activities of the Corporation during the financial year, and its financial situation for that year.


 

Article 26

 
The Corporation shall have one or more auditors of the accounts, a qualified accountant, who shall be appointed by, and have an annual remuneration specified in, a resolution of the Emir.
 
It shall be permitted, by resolution of the Emir, to delegate the auditing of the accounts to the Corporation to Board of Accountants, either independently or in conjunction with the auditor of the accounts.


 

Article 27

 
The auditor of the accounts shall have, at all times, the right to inspect any of the Corporation 's account books, records, documents, and to request any information he deems necessary to obtain for the performance of his duties in the proper fashion. He shall also have the right to investigate the Corporation's assets and liabilities, and in the case of a lack of supporting evidence in the course of performing the same, he shall submit to the Emir a report thereon.


 

Article 28

The auditor of the accounts shall submit his annual report to the Emir, and shall submit a copy thereof to the Board of Director.


 

Part 6

Procurement and use of Wireless Equipment and Frequencies

Article 29

It shall not be permitted for any natural or legal person to acquire, assemble, use or employ any wireless device or station for private use, without first obtaining a licence for the same from the Corporation, in accordance with the conditions determined therein, and the international rules supplementing the same.
And it shall be forbidden to grant a licence for private use in the case of a public communications network, with such a licence being invalid automatically and considered as withdrawn by operation of law, if there is a public communications network in operation in the region for which the licence is in effect after issue of thereof.


 

Article 30

It shall not be permitted to acquire, assemble or use any wireless device or station for the purposes of amateurism or a technical testing process, or scientific information, or education, or to establish or use wireless stations on board ships or aeroplanes registered in the state of Qatar, except with a specific licence from the Corporation, and in accordance with the conditions defined therein and the international rules supplementing the same.


 

Article 31

It shall not be permitted for any natural or legal person to use any wireless frequencies other than those assigned to him and registered in his name in the register kept for this purpose by the Corporation , and for the same a specific licence shall be issued, defining its specifications and modes of use, in accordance with the conditions specified in said licence and the international  rules complementing the same.
 
It shall not be permitted to use any registered frequency in a manner contrary to the manner registered thereto, unless prior written permission has been obtained for the same from the Corporation.


 

Article 32

Applications for licences for equipment and use of wireless frequencies, as set out in articles 29, 30 and 31 of this law, shall be submitted in the form prepared by the Corporation for this purpose.
The Corporation shall have the power to issue or refuse to issue a licence without giving reasons. In every case, it shall not be permitted to issue a licence without obtaining the approval of the Ministries of Defence and Interior.


 

Article 33

Licences referred to in the preceding articles shall be granted for a renewable period of one year, and it shall be permitted for the Corporation to renew or refuse to renew licences without providing reasons.
The period of one year shall begin on the first of January, and end on the last day of December, of each year. Applications for renewal must be submitted before the end of the month of October of each year.


 

Article 34

It shall not be permitted to appoint someone as an operator of wireless equipment or a wireless frequency unless he has obtained a wireless operator's certificate from the Corporation.
These certificates shall be issued after completion of an exam, the conditions and rules for which shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.


 

Article 35

It shall not be permitted for a licence-holder to use any wireless equipment or frequency for a purpose other than that specified in the licence, and it shall be forbidden for him to use the equipment of frequencies for the following purposes:
  1. receiving transmissions for which he has not been licenced. In cases where this happens by chance, it shall not be permitted for him to record said transmissions, transmit the same to others or use them for any purpose.
  2. sending or attempting to send transmissions which are seriously false or tend to serious falsehood.
  3. sending or attempting to send transmissions, messages, images or representations or any other thing contravening public order or decency or social or public security.
  4. transmitting or attempting to transmit any television programme.
  5. transmitting or receiving any transmission which is forbidden by any future resolution of the Corporation.


 

Article 36

It shall not be permitted for the licence-holder to transfer property in the wireless equipment, station or frequency which is subject to the licence, or loan, hire or dispose freely of the same in any way, or advertise regarding the same, without obtaining prior consent of the Corporation.
Any contravention of this rule shall result in the licence being deemed invalid by force of law merely by issue of disposal or advertising, without the need for any legal order or administrative resolution requiring the same.
It shall be permitted for the Corporation to confiscate administratively any equipment or station involved in the contravention.


 

Article 37

The Corporation has the power to invalidate a licence at any time when it is shown to it that the licence-holder has infringed any condition, international supplementary rule, or provision enacted in this law.
In addition it shall be permitted for the Corporation, when the public interest so requires, to subject a licence to special conditions, or invalidate or suspend the same, or temporarily seize the equipment or stations from the person licenced for them, and deliver the same to any government authority to use them, or to prohibit use of the same in defined areas.


 

Article 38

If the use of wireless apparatus results in interference or disruption in the use of another wireless apparatus, then it shall be permitted for the Corporation - based on a request from the owner of the article and after an investigation into the truth of the complaint - to compel the owner of the equipment which caused the interference or disruption to take any measure to resolve the matter within a specified period. If he should fail or delay in implementing the same, it shall be permitted for the Corporation to undertake the measures at his expense.


 

Article 39

Every person arriving in the country, national or foreigner, in possession of a wireless device, must notify the customs or border authorities of his possession immediately he arrives. He shall give up the same to them as to be returned to him at the time of his departure from the country, or his acquisition of a licence from the Corporation for use thereof.


 

Part 7

Production, commerce and maintenance of wireless equipment

Article 40

Subject to the provisions of Law No. 4 of 1985 on conditions and measures, it shall not be permitted to trade or produce, import, export, produce, assemble or maintain wireless equipment, except with a licence from the Corporation and according to the conditions defined thereby and the international rules complementing the same.
It shall not be permitted for the customs authorities to release any wireless equipment, without prior inspection of the licence and investigation into the conformity of the equipment with the specifications specified in the licence.


 

Article 41

Requests for the licence referred to in the preceding article shall be submitted in the form prepared for the purpose by the Corporation. The Corporation shall have the power to issue or refuse the licence without providing reasons.


 

Article 42

Any person pursuing trade in wireless equipment, or production or maintenance of the same, must notify the Corporation by registered letter of all wireless equipment which may be in his possession at the time of the coming into force of this law, or has been received thereafter item by item, save equipment regarding which notification has already been effected in accordance with the provisions of the law referred to as Law 13 of 1980.
Such notification must be completed within no more than thirty days from the date of the coming into force of this law, or the date of acquisition, as the case may be.
 
It shall also be necessary to keep a special register with numbered pages stating the names of the equipment, as well as the types, capacity, origin, and date of acquisition of the same. This register shall be retained for a period of three years from the date of the end of use. The same must be submitted to the Corporation before entries are made therein, so that the opening thereof can be endorsed and the pages stamped. In addition, after it has been completed, it must be submitted, immediately after it is sealed, by those responsible for it or somebody appointed by them, without delay. The endorsement and stamping shall be without a fee.
 
The notifications and registers referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be made out in Arabic, in accordance with guidance set down for this purpose by the Corporation, in clear lines and without any erasing, striking out or inserting.


 

Article 43

It is forbidden for any person carrying on trade in wireless equipment, or production or maintenance of the same, to purchase, assemble or maintain, or transfer ownership or possession of the same, to any natural or legal person who is not licenced to possess, use or employ the same.
 
It shall be necessary for such persons to keep a special register for the same, in accordance with the guidance set out by the Corporation for this purpose. In addition it shall be necessary to state, in said register, the name, type, capacity, origin of the same, as well as the date of transfer, assembly or maintenance of the same, and the name and address of the purchaser, procurer or person requesting maintenance.
 
The rules set out in the previous article shall govern the writing up, delivery, sealing and endorsing of these registers, in respect of the opening, closing and keeping thereof.


 

Part 8

Fees

Article 44 (Amended By Decree 34/1995)

The Corporation shall determine the fees payable for granting and renewal of licenses provided for herein. The Corporation shall also classify devices, frequencies and radio stations in degrees according to the types, purposes, uses, capacities and technical specifications of the same. This categorisation and the associated apportionment of fees shall be issued by resolution of the Chairperson. This resolution shall be submitted to the council of Minister for information.


 

Article 45

Equipment and stations of the following authorities shall be exempt from the fees referred to in the preceding article:
1 - Television and radio.
2 - The diplomatic corps and missions approved by the state of Qatar, on condition of similar co-operation.
3 - Any other authority specified by resolution of the Council of Ministers.


 

Part 9

Conditions and Remuneration for Service and Maintenance

Article 46

The Corporation  alone and without any other shall undertake all of the activities of service and maintenance for the equipment, apparatus and facilities connected to the public network, by way of agreements between the same and the owners of that equipment, apparatus or facilities, in accordance with rules set down by the Corporation .
It shall not be permitted to delegate to any other authority the tasks of maintenance or service, unless in accordance with the prior written approval of the Corporation.


 

Article 47

The Corporation shall provide services by way of contracts entered into between the same and the beneficiaries.


 

Article 48

The Board of Directors shall determine the payment for services which the Corporation shall provide, as well as the controls and conditions of performance of these services, and the forms of contracts entered into by the same and the beneficiaries.


 

Article 49

Any bill or notification issued by the Corporation shall be considered valid and arrived if sent or delivered to the beneficiary's address as confirmed in the contract. If the beneficiary objects to the bill within fifteen days from the date of its arrival, the Corporation  must investigate his objection and make inquiries into the same, by all administrative and technical means available to thereto. The decision issued by the Director-General in this matter shall be considered final.
It shall not be permitted for the beneficiary to object to any bill issued by the Corporation after the passing of more than fifteen days from the date of the arrival with him unless he applies for and receives an exemption from the Corporation.


 

Article 50

If the beneficiary is party to more than one contract with the Corporation and he has failed to pay the bill in relation to either of these contracts, the Corporation may refuse to do business with him, and withhold all services from him, until he pays that bill.


 

Part 10

Patronage of the Service Lines

Article 51

All persons working in the vicinity of the service routes and lines belonging to the Corporation and specified in the schedule annexed to this law must take all steps and measures to prevent harm or risk to the safety of these lines.


 

Article 52

Regarding the provision set out in the preceding article, if the work of any person or authority requires the cutting of any service line or interference with the same in any way, whoever undertakes this must notify the Corporation immediately. It shall not be permitted to undertake or complete the work before the attendance of a person authorised by the Corporation to ensure the work is properly carried out without any risk to the safety of the line.


 

Part 11

Restitution for Damage to Service Lines

Article 53

In addition to the penalties provided for by this law or another law, any person who causes damage to any service line, whether by cutting, grazing, stripping or some other way, must make restitution set out in the schedule annexed to this law and in accordance with the type and specifications of the line damaged.


 

Article 54

It shall be permitted to amend the schedule annexed to this law, by resolution of the Council of Ministers based on a proposal by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, by way of removal, addition, or amendment of the groups of compensation set out therein.


 

Part 12

Supervision and Penalties

Article 55

The Corporation shall be responsible for supervising and controlling wireless communications. In the course of performing those functions it shall have the following powers:
1 - supervision of licenced wireless equipment, stations and frequencies, to verify the safe use and employment thereof, in accordance with the conditions and provisions determined in this law and the international  rules.
2 - supervision of wireless communications, and investigation into equipment, stations and frequencies which are secret and unlicenced.
3 - supervision of the registers referred to in articles 42 and 43 of this law, and inspection thereof and confiscation of anything which may be in the possession of a trader or manufacturer of equipment. It shall be permitted for the Corporation to cancel administratively a licence issued to him, when satisfied by evidence that there has been fraudulent use of said register, or carelessness in the use thereof.


 

Article 56

The employees of the Corporation who are appointed by the Council of Ministers by resolution, based on the proposal of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, shall have, in the course of their duties, the official function of lawfully seizing evidence of crimes which occur in contravention of the provisions of this law and the regulations and resolutions implementing the same.
They shall have the right, as shall the police force, at any time, to enter factories, buildings, storage places, aeroplanes landing on Qatari land, ships currently or principally within Qatari territorial waters, and other places and channels where wireless equipment may be present, for the execution of the requirements of said provisions.
Those persons shall be permitted to request and examine business documents, licences, registers, paperwork, documents, and papers relating to the procurement, import, production or maintenance of wireless equipment.
In addition, those persons shall be permitted to search any other place resembling storage, and seize equipment and stations present in contravention of the law. Exempted from the same is any equipment or station present or installed on board foreign ships or aeroplanes.


 

Article 57

Without prejudice to any more severe penalty, or administrative procedure or fine provided for in any criminal law or any other law or required by the general rules, any person contravening any of the provisions of this law or the resolutions implementing the same, any condition of a licence issued to him, or any of the international rules applicable to these conditions, shall be punished by a period of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding three thousand Riyals, or both.
It shall be permitted for Courts, in addition thereto, to order the following supplementary penalties:
  1. confiscation of equipment or stations from the place of contravention.
  2. cancellation of a licence.
  3. withdrawal of any wireless operator's certificate for a period not exceeding six months. In these circumstances, the order shall specify the date of commencement of the execution of the closure.
 
In cases of repeat offending, the upper and lower limits of the punishment shall be doubled. It shall be mandatory for the sentence to be supplemented by an additional period of closure or withdrawal of a wireless operator's licence.


 

Article 58

The owner of any place, storehouse, factory, wireless equipment, or wireless station shall be responsible along with any person undertaking its management or use, in respect of any contravention which may occur of the provisions of this law or the resolutions implementing the same. If there is evidence that the same was, by reason of an absence or lack of care he, unable to prevent the crime from occurring, the punishment shall be limited to the fine only.


 

Part 13

General and Transitional Provisions

Article 59

It shall be permitted for persons licenced to procure, use, employ, trade in, produce or maintain wireless equipment to request an amendment to their licences. The Corporation may approve this amendment or refuse it, without providing reasons.
On the granting of an amended licence, the fee specified for a new licence shall be payable.


 

Article 60

All of the licences issued pursuant to the provisions of this law shall be personal. It shall not be permitted to transfer or sell the same to another in any way, for profit or otherwise.
A licence shall fall void by operation of law on the mere transfer thereof or sale thereof, without the need for the issue of any judicial order or administrative decision requiring the same.


 

Article 61

The Government shall not bear any responsibility for licenced wireless equipment, stations or frequencies and the procurement, assembly, use, employment, maintenance thereof shall be under the responsibility of the person licenced for the same, and they alone shall be accountable for the use thereof and any harm resulting from the same.


 

Article 62

Wireless equipment and stations imported on account of, or used by, the armed forces, police force, or any other authority specified by resolution issued by the Council of Ministers, shall not be subject to the provisions of this law. However, the said authorities must register the information and frequencies of equipment and stations, in accordance with the provisions of this law, and this registration shall be done without a fee.


 

Article 63

The holders of licences for coastal and commercial stations must keep accounts of purchases by and from the station, in special registers, making clear the No.  and date of purchases, and the full name of anyone from the station who provided the same and the station finally to receive the same, and any other information requested by the Corporation  from time to time, in accordance with guidance drawn up by the Corporation  for this purpose.


 

Article 64

The Corporation's real and movable assets shall be considered government assets, and subject to the rules for the same.
As an exception to this, it shall not be permitted to confiscate the same in satisfaction of any debt. In addition, it shall not be permitted to have ownership thereof by confiscation, or for the ownership to be antiquated by effluxion of a long period of time.


 

Article 65

The tax laws and fees set out in resolutions shall apply to the Corporation and its subsidiary companies.
With regard to the provisions enacted for exemptions arising in specific laws, it shall be permitted, by resolution of the Council of Ministers, based on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance and Petroleum, to exempt the Corporation and any companies it owns from any of the taxes and fees or procedures set out therein.


 

Article 66

The international rules on Telecommunications shall have effect, except insofar as, in relation to any matter, the contrary is specifically provided for in this law.


 

Article 67

Regulations shall govern what is not set out in this law, the provisions of which shall apply as set out herein and so as to give effect to the purposes herein.


 

Article 68

On the date of the coming into force of this law, by resolution of the President of the Council of Ministers, shall transfer to the Corporation all employees of the government ministries and agencies whom they see fit, as well as their positions, uniforms, and prerogatives specified for them at the time of the transfer, until the Corporation issues a regulation on workers. The same shall be based on the proposal of the Chair of the Board of Directors and the approval of the authorities for which those persons work, with the Minister of Finance and Petroleum having a right of refusal.


 

Article 69

The position of those workers who have not been transferred to the Corporation in accordance with the preceding article shall be dealt with by resolution of the President of the Council of Ministers, as to the end of their service, transfer to other government authorities, their positions, uniforms, and prerogatives being theirs at the time of the transfer, according to the applicable provisions and rules of law.


 

Article 70

The law referred to as No.  13 of 1980 and resolution of the Council of Ministers referred to as No.  17 of 1973 shall cease to have effect; as shall any provision contrary to the provisions of this act cease to have effect. The resolutions, records, fees currently in effect at the coming into force of law No.  13 of 1980C which are not incompatible with the provisions of this law shall remain in effect, until new resolutions and fees are issued.
In addition, licences issued in accordance with the provisions of the law 13 of 1980 shall continue in effect until the end of the period thereof.


 

Article 71

All competent authorities, each within its field of competence, shall ensure the implementation of this law. The same shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall be in continual effect as of 29/6/1987C.


 

Please do not consider the material presented above Official

© 2017 حكومة دولة قطر. حميع الحقوق محفوظة.