CRA’s technical inspectors conducting routine inspection.
DOHA: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has conducted, in April, its first round of inspections for 2018 of shops selling telecommunications devices and equipment and issued a total of 35 written violation notices for shops practising such activities without having the required licence.
The inspection was conducted by CRA’s technical inspectors to detect and to take appropriate actions towards shops that sale or use radio and telecommunications devices & equipment (RTTE) illegally. Inspection covered 78 shops and showrooms, targeting popular locations that sell these devices including malls, souks, commercial areas, as well as neighborhoods’ grocery stores, the percentage of violation reached 45 percent.
“Inspections are an important part of CRA’s role to protect consumers and ensuring that they get certified telecommunications devices from licensed shops; consumers may lose their rights if they buy telecommunications devices and equipment from unlicensed shops,” said Faisal Ali Al Shuaibi, Public Relations & Communications Manager, CRA.
CRA issued notices were for a range of violations; the most common being was for shops selling mobile phones without valid license or authorisation from CRA.
The notice requires the non-compliant shops to regularize their license in specified period of time to avoid CRA’s appropriate legal action. Other violations included selling RTTE equipment without having Type Approval Certificate from CRA, selling of illegal equipment and incorrect license for the practiced activity.
It’s worth mentioning that commercially registered companies in Qatar who want to import RTTE equipment are required to grant the necessary prior approvals from CRA; import authorization license, type approval certificate and customs clearance certificate.
Approvals are mandatory to ensure the equipment meets certain safety and technical standards. RTTE equipment includes, but is not limited to, mobile phones, wireless local area networks and short range devices, etc.
Anyone residing in Qatar can request a CRA inspection if they suspect a business is selling or using unauthorised radio and telecommunications devices and equipment at any location in the country. To request an inspection, or to apply for an import authorisation, type approval and customs clearance certificate, contact CRA by e-mail at [email protected], or by calling CRA’s hotline number 103.
