Doha - Post Report Question and Answers
Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
We had a hot spot upon arrival that we borrowed from the Community Liaison Office (CLO). Ooredoo is the main carrier here and they are popular. We have found them to be frustrating since if you don't pay your bill on the given day, they turn off your account. You cannot pay ahead now since they don't like it, and we have a hard time even understanding our bill. At the end of the day, we think we are overpaying (and we are organized people) but chalk it up to what you have to deal with while in another country. Interestingly, the internet has been the biggest disappointment in this grand country, for us. It is always lagging and working slow and I notice the best time is in the early morning. Zoom works well here but for us, FaceTime and Skype, not so well. Install VPN and turn it on BEFORE entering country or itwon't work. We find Express works better than Nord in this country. - Oct 2023
Yes. There are only two companies, Ooredoo (a national company) and Vodafone. Vodafone uses Ooredoos lines. Ooredoo has fiber to the home and the speeds are good. Vodafone is only 4G I think. You cannot set up your service until you have your Dip ID. Same with post-paid cell phone service (pre-paid is no problem). It will take a month-ish to get your credentials and then just a few days for internet installation. You will need a VPN as things are blocked. Set up your VPN before you arrive. - Jul 2022
Yes, they have internet and is pretty good actually, and it took us about three weeks to have it. - Apr 2021
Our internet has been pretty close to flawless. I'm not sure we've always gotten the speeds which we're paying for, but it's always worked, and well. We're constantly streaming HD movies, videos, sports, YouTube and more, and typically multiple devices at the same time. (Plus we've never lost power or had an electrical surge.) - May 2017
Fiber is more and more available in Doha. My internet has been just as fast here as it was in the States, for about $100/month. Totally suitable for streaming video, etc. The ubiquitous local company, Ooredoo, was quick to set it up and we haven't had any issues during our two years, except for VPN/DNS woes, but that's not Ooredoo's fault. - May 2017
yes. It varies with location. - May 2015
Yes, expensive and speed varies. They're working on installing fiber-optic everywhere, but the buildings that don't have it yet still have pretty slow speeds. If you have fiber optic you have the potential to have high speeds, but the speed is throttled by the cable company so that they can charge you insane rates to get it faster. - Feb 2015
Yes. Q-tel is in the process of upgrading us to fiber optic internet which will be awesome. - Apr 2012
They say internet is fast, but if snails are fast, so is the internet here. - Mar 2012
Internet is fast. I don't remember what it costs, but it can't be too bad or I would remember. - Mar 2012
Internet is fine but not the fastest. We are supposedly upgrading to fiber optic cables next month. Qtel is the communications monopoly here. We pay about $60/month for a 4 mb line, but it is much, much slower than that currently. - Jan 2012
Yes. Its not super fast but not super slow either. I think it was about $40.00/month. - Oct 2010
Available and reliable. - Dec 2009
Yes, comes bundled in a cable TV/internet package. Not a bad deal, reliable. - Sep 2008
