Qatar Telecom will permit certain authorized dealers to import, sell and install a range of satellite dishes, in the wake of the lifting of a government ban on such activities, reported the Khaleej Times on Friday.
Q-Tel will, however, remain the only source of decryption cards, said the report, adding that until recently, the use of such dishes was banned.
When the ban was removed, Q-Tel announced it would be responsible for importing of dish antennae and connecting equipment, which would be marketed through a list of 11 authorized dealers.
The first batch of KU band dishes were imported by Q-Tel and have already been installed. Now Q-Tel has decided to hand the responsibility for importation and installation to a longer list of 13 authorized dealers.
Press reports quoted by the Emirati paper say that permission may also be granted for the import of C and K band antennae, which receive more free-to-air channels, and more channels of interest to the large Asian population in the country. Companies not on the list will be banned from importing, selling or installing satellite dishes, and it will remain illegal for individuals to import them.
Dealers believe the new instructions will result in a drop in prices of antennae, said the report – Albawaba.com
