In last year’s GCC Telecommunications Ministers Committee in June 2011, the Committee made the decision to work with regional telecommunications and regulatory authorities to reduce GCC-wide roaming rates on voice calls within GCC countries by February 1, 2012 at the latest, thus bringing the benefits of affordable roaming rates to consumers. This decision applies only to voice calls, not data or SMS services.
Qatar’s telecommunications operators, QTel and Vodafone, were notified of the decision in July 2011, and implemented the proposed price reductions before the end of 2011. Both operators are currently in full compliance with the GCC Ministerial Committee decision, and the reduced voice roaming prices have already been provided to their customers and posted on their websites.