The CRA issues five (5) Orders to Ooredoo Q.S.C. (“Ooredoo”) regarding Consumer & Business Fiber Broadband Services.

The CRA has the power to set rules for Tariff regulation to safeguard the interests of Customers.

These rules are included in the Retail Tariff Instruction detailing the procedures for the provision of Tariff offers, their approval and publication in respect to Telecommunications Services. As Dominant Service Provider in the fixed relevant markets (ref. Notice and Order on Market Definition and Dominance Designation), Ooredoo is obliged to file its Tariffs to the CRA and obtain the approval for them prior to introduce the Tariffs. Amongst others, this obligation refers to Fiber Broadband and Leased Line services.

The CRA is now publishing five (5) Orders regarding CRA’s approval – in the most of the cases after further investigation - of Ooredoo’s proposed modifications to Consumer Fiber Broadband Services Tariff (C05-02, “Consumers FBB”) and Business Fibre Broadband Services Tariff (B30-01, “Business FBB”).

In summary:

1. The Order CRARAC 2017/02/22, issued on February 22 2017, refers to Ooredoo’s proposed modifications to the Consumer FBB Tariff (e.g. introduction of additional speeds, elimination of the price differentials between double and triple pay services, etc.). The CRA did not approve Ooredoo proposed modifications but opened an investigation based on various concerns (e.g. competitive concerns);
2. The Order CRARAC 2017/06/08, issued on June 8 2017, refers to Ooredoo’s proposed modifications to the Business FBB Tariff (e.g. new tariff portfolio replacing the existing one leaving current customers the choice to either continue with the existing tariff portfolio or migrate to the new one). The CRA did not approve Ooredoo’s proposed modification but opened an investigation based on various concerns (i.e. cost proxies used by Ooredoo for the cost justification).
3. The Order CRARAC 2017/07/18, issued on July 17 2017, refers to Ooredoo’s proposed modifications to Consumer FBB and Business FBB Tariff already mentioned above (ref. point 1 and 2 above). Having performed its investigations, the CRA authorized Ooredoo to introduce the Consumer FBB and Business FBB proposed Tariffs.
4. The Order CRARAC 2017/10/22, issued on October 22 2017, refers to Ooredoo’s proposed modifications to Consumer FBB Tariff (i.e. introduction of a new portfolio of FBB services).The CRA did not approve Ooredoo’s proposed modification but opened an investigation based on various concerns (e.g. changes to terms and conditions, charging of the one time fees, cost proxies used by Ooredoo for the cost justification).
5. The Order CRARAC 2017/11/07, issued on November 7, 2017 refers to Ooredoo’s proposed modifications to Consumer FBB Tariff already mentioned above (ref. point 4 above). Having performed its investigations, the CRA authorized Ooredoo to introduce the proposed Consumer FBB Tariff.