Qatar- GCC reduces cellphone roaming charges by 40 effective April 1

Date

3/24/2016 8:09:52 AM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Riyadh: The GCC General Secretariat Thursday announced the first phase of new regulation to reduce by 40% all cellphone roaming services charges effective from April 1 2016.

In a statement issued today GCC General Secretariat's Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs Abdullah bin Juma Al Shibli said: "The reduction includes voice service charges for incoming and outgoing calls SMS data. Receiving text messages remain free of charge while roaming as it is currently."

Cellphone users in the GCC member states could save up to US$1.13 Billion boosting social welfare by $404 Million he added.

''A GCC technical team will monitor these prices regularly and submit recommendations to the GCC Ministerial Committee for Post Telecommunications and Information Technology. A mechanism has been set up to gather data on a regular basis to update decision-makers on changes taking place in the roaming services market and ensure efficient control'' Al Shibli said.

The decision to trim roaming charges in GCC comes after the Supreme Council of the Ministerial Committee of Posts and Telecommunications directive to push joint action.

QNA

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