The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) has issued an order that sets forth the rules of On-Network/Off-Network (on-net/off-net) Price Differentiation for Dominant Service Providers (DSP) in Qatar. The order states that no on-net/off-net price differentiation can be applied by a DSP in Qatar, meaning that a DSP must charge the same price to customers regardless of the number or carrier they call or use a service (SMS, MMS, video call, etc.) from.
Qatar’s Telecommunications Law, Executive By-Law and Licenses of the Service Providers clearly set out the obligations and rights of a DSP and non-DSP in Qatar. In relation to all voice and data retail telecommunication services, Qatar Telecom (Qtel) is classified as the DSP.
On-net/off-net pricing differentiation is a commercial practice of telecom operators in which they offer cheaper rates for calls or telecommunications services on their network (on-net), as opposed to calls or service from a different network (off-net). While this practice is not inherently anti-competitive, ictQATAR determined that in Qatar’s developing telecommunications market such a practice had the potential to harm the growth of a smaller network and reduce competition.
ictQATAR conducted a consultation with both Qtel and Vodafone-Qatar prior to issuing of the order.
The full order for on-net/off-net price differentiation is available on the document library.