Vodafone’s "3 Months Free" Promotion in Breach of CRA’s Advertising Code

The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has found Vodafone Qatar’s “3 Months Free” marketing campaign to be in breach of the Code on Advertising, Marketing & Branding, and issued an Order to Vodafone to remove all its  advertisements related to this promotional campaign. The advertisement includes inaccurate and misleading messages for customers leading them to believe that customers subscribing to this offer will receive three months’ worth of subscription for free. 

CRA regularly monitors advertisements issued by the licensed service providers in Qatar to ensure compliance with the advertising code which was issued last year to protect telecom consumers from misleading and deceptive advertisements about telecom service and products. The recent Vodafone promotion “3 Months Free”, in its current form, created the perception that the offer  was free of any charges when in reality this promotion offers customers a discount of 30% of the subscription fees over a period of 10 months.

The Code requires that advertisements and information provided to consumers should be fair, truthful and accurate, and should not be misleading. This obligation is underpinned by more detailed provisions for advertisements comparing competing products, special offers, broadcast advertisements, etc.

CRA has Ordered  Vodafone to remove all promotional materials for related to this campaign. Vodafone may opt  to correct the promotion by changing the content in the campaign to reflect the published tariff which states that “all new postpaid customers will get a discount equal to three month’s subscription free over 10 months on their postpaid plan’s monthly rental (‘discount’)”. 

“We are here to protect telecom consumers from misleading and unfair practices by service providers. CRA has put in place several initiatives to ensure that operators act in the best interest of the consumers. The Code on Advertising, Marketing & Branding, was issued last year, and forms an important aspect to consumer protection together with the Telecom Consumer Protection Policy, a dedicated consumer complaint process, a 24/7 hotline (103), andArsel – CRA’s mobile app,,” said Mrs. Amel Salem Al-Hanawi, Head of Consumer & Government Affairs Department.  

She added, “I would like to encourage all telecom consumers in Qatar to be more aware of your rights and make informed decisions. If you notice any misleading advertisement reach out to us, and we will work with you to ensure that the information provided is accurate and to your benefit.”

The Order issued by  CRA asks Vodafone to implement the following:

1. Remove all advertisements related to this campaign from shopping malls, billboards, online, and all other media   with immediate effect
2. If Vodafone wishes to continue the “3 months Free” campaign, it must, with immediate effect, 
   • rectify the existing advertisements to clearly state that all new postpaid customers will get a discount equal to three month’s subscription free over 10 months on their postpaid plan’s monthly rental (‘discount’)”
   • Amend the advertisements to clearly state that this offer is subject to the terms and conditions that apply to the offer;
   • Ensure that customers who have paid for the “3 months Free postpaid” from January 14, 2015 onwards receive three months free subscriptions and are not penalized for exiting the promotion prior to 10 months;

CRA will continue to monitor all promotions and advertisings by the service providers to ensure that these are aligned with the Telecoms Law, Executive By-Law, Consumer Protection Policy and Code on Advertising, Marketing & Branding . CRA shall intervene if necessary to protect telecom consumers from misleading material included in any promotional campaigns related to the sector.

Consumers may contact CRA through the dedicated telecom consumers Hotline - 103 or by email at consumervoice@cra.gov.qa to lodge a complaint about any misleading telecom advertisements.