Minister of Communications and Information Technology Inspects International Broadcast Center for World Cup, Spectrum Test and Tag Desk

HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, yesterday, visited the International Broadcast Center (IBC) for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as well as the Communications Regulatory Authority’s (CRA) Spectrum Test and Tag Desk dedicated to the tournament at Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

HE was briefed on the progress of work in the IBC, Spectrum Test, and Tag Desk and inspected their readiness to serve the broadcast of the World Cup and events with the latest technologies and in accordance with the requirements of the International Football Association (FIFA).

IBC is one of the most advanced information centers in the world that will send all the footage from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 to the rest of the world. In addition, the Spectrum Test and Tag Desk, managed by CRA, is one of CRA’s 12 desks available at the main venues to provide the service of testing and tagging for radio equipment to authorize them to enter to the tournament’s venues.

CRA is the responsible agency for managing, assigning, licensing and monitoring the use of the radio spectrum in the State of Qatar. The Spectrum Test and Tag Desks facilitate all broadcasters and Media Right Licensees to get their radio equipment tested and tagged, because no radio devices or equipment will be allowed in the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venues unless registered on the e-spectrum portal and tested and tagged by CRA.

On this occasion, HE Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said: "We are proud that the QNCC has hosted many national, regional and international events over the past years. It is hosting, for the first time in the tournament’s history, both the IBC and the Main Media Center for the World Cup in the same venue."

HE added: "Today, during our visit to the IBC and CRA’s Spectrum Test and Tag Desk, we witnessed the optimal readiness for the historic hosting of Qatar for the World Cup, which will start within the next few days. What Qatar has provided to the IBC in terms of modern infrastructure and related services is a great witness to the advanced level of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in Qatar. Many impressive things are in place like the use of technologies for the first time that differ from what has been used before in similar tournaments, as well as the planning considerations that have put in place many technical redundants to ensure that the broadcast from Qatar will reach the rest of the world."

Source: Government of Qatar