News | Ministry of Transport

Monday, December 12, 2016

MOTC’s Q-CERT Organizes 4th National Cybersecurity Drill

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) has launched the fourth National Cybersecurity Drill, ‘Star-4’, on Monday, December 12 as part of the objectives of Qatar’s National Cybersecurity Strategy.HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti opened the event, which runs until Thursday 15 December.Under the theme ‘Managing Supply Risk in the Supply Chain’, the drill complements the series of national exercises initiated by MOTC’s Qatar Computer Emergency Response Team (Q-CERT) to raise the efficiency and readiness of government and corporate institutions against cyberattacks.“Star-4 focuses on cybersecurity risks that may be encountered within the ICT supply chain,” said Khalid al-Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary, Cyber Security Sector at MOTC, during a media briefing held today at the Ministry headquarters.The technical side of the drills aims to enhance surveillance, monitoring, and reporting by institutions when dealing with cyberattacks, Al-Hashmi added.He noted that cyber drills are exercises that measure the level of readiness against evolving cyber threats and are conducted on a yearly basis. He also pointed out that the drills increase readiness and collaboration among organizations and provide them with the knowledge and tools to contain any form of cyberattack.“The number of the drill participants has increased since the launch of the first national cybersecurity drill (‘Star-1’) in 2013. This year, more than 250 people, representing 60 organizations from seven major sectors are participating in Star-4,” said Nora al-Abdullah, Cybersecurity Training and Awareness Section Manager at Q-CERT.“The cybersecurity drills do not gauge the number of attacks but measure the readiness of Qatar organizations in the face of a cyberattack. The most positive effect of these drills is seeing all these organizations coming together and strengthening Qatar’s cybersecurity ecosystem, and I think that is the essence of having a national cybersecurity drill,” al-Abdullah explained.Cyber drills in Qatar are coordinated in line with the second objective of the National Cyber Security Strategy: “Respond to, resolve and recover from cyber incidents and attacks through timely information sharing, collaboration and action.”

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Hamad International Airport Announces Long-Term Commitment to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Doha,Hamad International Airport (HIA) is celebrating its successful renewal of the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme by announcing a long-term commitment to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions. This includes a target to improve carbon efficiency by 30% by 2030 along with a series of initiatives to help save energy and optimize the consumption of vehicle fuel. Globally, HIA is one of 173 airports accredited to the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, and uniquely, is the only airport to have included carbon emissions generated since its very first day of operations, in April 2014.The ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme offers certification at four levels which reflect incremental challenges in measuring, managing and improving carbon emissions. Currently at Level 1 ‘Mapping’, HIA has ambitious plans to progress to higher levels of accreditation and to demonstrate an approach to managing climate change that compares favorably with other world leading airports. Central to this ambition is HIA’s commitment to deliver a new target to improve carbon efficiency per passenger by 30% by 2030 against a 2015 baseline. Through the preparation of a formal, independently verified, annual carbon footprint, HIA has already achieved a 4% improvement in carbon emissions per passenger in 2015 compared to 2014, with the ambition to reduce the 2015 baseline of 5.6 kilograms CO2 per passenger to fewer than 4.0 kilograms CO2 per passenger by 2030. A new Energy Working Group has been created to help deliver this target. The group comprises a team of electrical, engineering and environmental technical specialists with the remit to identify and progress energy saving initiatives across the whole airport campus. The group has already begun to implement a number of new projects, including modifications to lighting, heating, ventilation and cooling systems which, when combined, could save up to 4,462,600 kWh energy per year. Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport said: "At Hamad International Airport, we believe in our environmental responsibility and are committed to tackling climate change as a core component of our business strategy. It is in our best interest to develop a sustainable future for our airport by effectively managing the environmental impacts of our operations." Al Meer continued: "The Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme provides an ideal structure for us to plan and monitor the progress of our carbon programme, and to benchmark our approach against other world leading airports. We’re actively pursuing the higher levels of Airport Carbon Accreditation by engaging all airport stakeholders to continually reduce energy demand through new technology and improved operational practices and by considering further investments in low carbon energy generation." One such initiative plans to replace the existing High Pressure Sodium (HSP) apron flood lights and metal halide light fittings in the airport’s passenger terminal transfer area with Light Emitting Diodes (LED), which will save an estimated 2,613,500kWh energy per year. Another example includes the installation of "speed doors" at vehicular entrances to airport buildings, such as baggage handling areas. These doors help to contain cooled air within the building, reducing the energy burden on cooling systems. IA recognizes that achieving its ambitious carbon target will depend on energy efficiency being built into the design of future airport development. Plans for a major extension of the airport terminal include consideration of certification to the silver level of the international green building scheme LEED, and will include over 11,000 m of photovoltaic cells forecast to generate up to 2,885 MWh energy per year. Alongside enhancing the efficiency of the airport’s infrastructure, HIA is also looking at optimizing its utilization of vehicles. To drive continual improvement in the efficiency of over 2,000 vehicles operating airside, a new Airport Vehicle Programme has been established. This programme brings together businesses operating airport vehicles within the airport boundary, and is focused initially on developing systems to improve the measurement of vehicle fuel consumption and efficiency. The Airport Vehicle Programme has plans to support airport businesses to further improve vehicle management, such as introducing on-board telematics to enable the tracking and analysis of vehicle use and driver behavior. The programme will also provide a valuable role in sharing the experiences of businesses that have already begun to introduce new technology, such as Qatar Aviation Services, who have a fleet of clean vehicles which will expand from 66 to 91 electric vehicles early in 2017.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

CRA begins push for Qatari domain names

Doha,The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has initiated a drive to encourage the uptake of Qatari domain names by local businesses and individuals to increase their web presence.As part of the drive, CRA has invited local web solution providers to sign up as accredited domain name registrars with the authority’s Qatar Domains Registry (QDR).In a press statement yesterday, CRA said QDR has “invested significant time and resources” in identifying and accrediting registrars with strong potential in increasing local and global adoption of the “.qa and .” domains. Accredited registrars represent QDR to offer short, memorable and uniquely Qatari domain extensions to customers, and to manage the registration process following international standards set by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.Although accreditation by QDR allows any registrar to have direct access to the registry database, only Qatar-based registrars are able to register second-level “.qa” addresses, such as “.com.qa” – reserved for companies registered in Qatar, “.net.qa” – reserved for IT-related companies registered in Qatar, and “.name.qa” – reserved for Qatari citizens and residents.These second-level “.qa” domains account for more than 50% of total domains registered locally.The business potential of being an accredited registrar based in Qatar is far more significant as indicated by the fact that only the Qatar-based registrars, including some SMEs, are allowed special rights of distribution of these zone domain extensions, CRA has stressed.Moreover, the renewal rate of domains under second-level is higher than the ones under “.qa”, allowing for a more stable and sustainable annual recurring revenue stream. “QDR has an efficient and capable team of experienced professionals that are available to help registrars setup, manage and profit from this exclusive opportunity,” thestatement notes.The process to sign up for the registrar accreditation comprises the following steps: submit a completed application form and the necessary documentation, complete a questionnaire and technical test, and pay the required fees.The process is available on the QDR website at http://www.domains.qa/en/registrars/become-a-registrar Interested companies may also contact QDR at registrars@domains.qa

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

HE The Minister Meets with German State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Energy

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti met here Wednesday with the German State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Matthias Machnig.The two officials discussed several topics of common interest in the fields of transport and communications and means of further enhancing them, in addition to means of capitalizing on the investment opportunities available in both friendly countries.The meeting was attended by HE Hans-Udo Muzel, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Doha.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

MoTC Takes Part in International Conference of Future Generation

MoTC Takes Part in International Conference of Future Generation Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications is taking part in the International Conference of Future Generation organized by the Childhood Cultural Center (CCC) at the Qatar National Convention Center this December 7-8.The event is part of global celebrations marking the Universal Children’s Day that falls on November 20 every year.The Digital Society Department and the Qatar Assistive Technology Center (MADA) represent the Ministry at the event with two booths at the sideline exhibition, which features 28 articles of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The State of Qatar is one of the Convention’s signatory countries.Digital Society Department displays some of the Ministry’s initiatives that aim at raising Internet safety awareness. One of them is the SafeSpace website that helps protect children online and educate users about Internet safety topics, in addition to providing information, sources and tips for parents, educators and young people on how to use and benefit from the Internet safely and without giving up the values and best practices that guarantee safe online navigation.The booth also features the Haseen program – a phased Internet safety and security awareness program for students. It was developed cooperatively by the Ministry and the Supreme Education Council and officially launched in February 2015 to teach schoolchildren how to think critically and behave online by raising their awareness and developing an informed and healthy cybersafety culture across the Qatari society. Designed for male and female students, the program educates children and youth how to use technologies safely, responsibly and ethically.The Digital Society Department’s booth reflects the role Qatar plays to put Article 17 of the Convention into action in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2017-2022. Article 17 reads, “State Parties recognize the important function performed by the mass media and shall insure that the child has access to information and material from a diversity of national and international sources, especially those aimed at the promotion of his or her social, spiritual and moral well-being and physical and mental health.”MADA’s booth emphasizes the State of Qatar’s efforts to achieve Article 23, which reads; “State Parties recognize that a mentally or physically disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Minister of Transport and Communication Inaugurates New Server Floor QDC5

Doha-HE the Minister of Transport and Communication Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti on Monday inaugurated the new server floor at Ooredoo's Qatar Data Centre (QDC5) marking tens years of Qatar Data Centre innovation. The ceremony was attended by Chairman of Ooredoo HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani in addition to senior executives, major customers, VIPs from across Qatar and leading technology experts. HE the Minister of Transport and Communication said " The Ministry of Transport and Communications is focusing its attention on positioning Qatar as a leading nation for the digital economy, and has made significant strides towards achieving that leadership role." He stressed the need to intensify efforts to ensure network safety and security across Qatar. He also emphasized that the Ministry is working on enhancing market conditions and making existing and upcoming knowledge-sharing easier, and underlined the Ministry's support for all projects that will help drive Qatar's move towards deploying smart solutions. Qatar Data Centre contributes to the growth of businesses in Qatar by expanding the scope of solutions and technologies that are available to them. He indicated that Ooredoo has become one of the leading companies in this area in the region, HE the Minister said. For his part, HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani said that the Qatar Data Centre has evolved into the most advanced and sophisticated facility in the region and continues to enable businesses to achieve greater efficiencies and deliver significant success, stressing that Ooredoo will continue to invest in new services and solutions for its customers and look forward to further innovation in the future. Officially launched in 2006, the Qatar Data Centre was the first facility in Qatar to offer businesses a full suite of enterprise services, evolving into one of the most important technology assets in Qatar's drive to become a "smart" nation.The first facility was approximately 2,000 sq. feet and provided colocation and basic reporting services. Over the past decade, Ooredoo's Data Centre offering has grown so that it now manages and operates five data centres with a capacity of more than 55,000 sq. feet, with potential future expansion capacity of up to 100,000 sq. feet. Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar Waleed Mohamed Ebrahim Al Sayed stated: "Our network of Qatar Data Centres is the beating heart at the centre of Ooredoo's ICT development strategy, which will see us become a major provider of technology and solutions to organisations and businesses not just across Qatar – but for the whole region." "The Qatar Data Centre's growth has played a vital role in Ooredoo's journey to being a data experience leader, and we will continue to drive innovation across the facility," he added. Qatar Data Centre facilities have been designed in compliance with Tier-3 standards and provides local and regional organisations with a full range of services including Hosting and Co-location, Cloud Services, Data Backup and Restoration, Managed Storage, Email and Web Security and more. HE Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Nasser Al-Thani, Chief New Line of Business Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, said: "QDC 5 is one of the first data centres to deploy 'Data Centre Infrastructure Management', which monitors the facility's capacity, space, power and cooling through one integrated platform. This captures real-time information about our facility infrastructure and power usage efficiency. We have also invested in the human resources to manage and operate this facility, including achieving multiple ISO standards." Ooredoo continues to support the launch of new breakthrough technologies for customers, in-line with its strategy to become an ICT innovation engine for Qatar and the region. Recently, it has launched 'Advanced Managed Services', to enable customers to safeguard servers, applications and data with the highest levels of security, infrastructure availability, redundancy and disaster recovery options. In addition, plans are in place to launch an online portal for Qatar Data Centre's customers, where they can raise Service Requests, follow-up on issues and request on-demand reporting.