(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
By Mobin Pandit
DOHA: Local telecom service providers Ooredoo and Vodafone will charge reduced roaming rates within GCC states from April 1.
Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) said yesterday it has coordinated with the two telecom service providers to launch the new roaming charges for their customers “as planned”.
This is the first phase of implementation of the new regulation on reduced roaming charges for the benefit of telecom consumers in Qatar and the rest of the GCC states a CRA release said.
The regulation applies to reduction in roaming rates for voice calls outgoing SMS and data services in all GCC countries.
Since the decision was announced last year CRA worked with the service providers and put in place the necessary regulatory instructions to ensure they had sufficient time to plan the implementation.
“Both service providers have been supportive in complying with this new regulation” the CRA said.
The launch of this consumer-friendly initiative is a direct result of the decision by the GCC Ministerial Committee for Posts Telecommunications and Information Technology to reduce the rates for roaming telephone calls text messaging and data services throughout the GCC countries.
Receiving SMS texts while in roaming will be free.
The reductions in roaming charges on both the inter-operator wholesale level and end-user retail level will take place gradually over a three-year period for voice calls and SMS services and over a five-year period for mobile data services.
The decision aims at enhancing cooperation among the GCC states in the field of communication for the benefit of GCC citizens.
Adel M Darwish Head of International Relations at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Bahrain and Chairman of the GCC Roaming Working Group said that reduction rates in roaming charges are to reach 40 percent in the current phase. The first phase of the new regulation (2016) is expected to save $1137m ($1.137bn) for mobile phone subscribers in GCC countries and to boost social welfare by $404m.
A dedicated working group from the GCC countries will monitor the service charges on a regular basis and provide necessary recommendations to the Ministerial Committee for Posts Telecommunications and Information Technology.
A comprehensive mechanism was also developed to collect data in a periodic unified and organized manner to help decision-makers and the working group to be up-to-date with all the developments in the roaming service market and to enable them to monitor and ensure effective application of the regulation. The CRA remains committed to continuing its efforts to promote competition in the communications sector and ensure that the benefits are passed on to consumers and boost the availability of advanced innovative and reliable services in Qatar said the CRA release.
The Peninsula