The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) recently issued the updated Dispute Regulations of the telecom sector in Qatar.
This is in line with the CRA’s keenness to encourage sustainable competition and prevent anti-competitive practices in the market, the authority has said in a press statement.
The regulations set out the procedures and requirements that service providers or others need to follow to file a complaint or dispute with the CRA about another service provider or another stakeholder, so that the CRA can investigate it to fairly and efficiently reach a resolution in accordance with the stipulated timeframe, the statement notes.
The regulations were issued pursuant to Amiri Decree No 42 of 2014 establishing the CRA, to the Telecommunications Law and to the Telecommunications By-Law. They replace the previous Dispute Resolution and Ex Post Complaint processes issued in 2015, according to the authority.
Mohamed Ali al-Mannai, president of the CRA, said: “The CRA ensures to set and develop policies and regulations for a competitive market, that benefits all parties; service providers and consumers. The competition encourages service providers to provide consumers with the best innovative and advanced services, and it contributes to the development of the telecommunications sector in Qatar.
“The Dispute Regulations will support the CRA’s efforts to achieve this goal, as it will encourage competition, prevent and reduce anti-competitive practices, and prevent misuse by any person or entity of its position in the market.”
According to the Dispute Regulations, there are three key procedural stages in the CRA’s assessment of any submission of a complaint or dispute. The first phase includes filing a valid complaint or dispute to the CRA by email. During the second phase, the authority investigates the complaint or dispute, taking account of any document submissions from the parties, and in the final phase, the CRA issues its interim or final decision within the stipulated timeframe.
Failure to comply with any dispute or complaint settlement decision of the CRA will result in the referral of the matter to the Penalties Committee or to the courts, the statement adds.
The updated Dispute Regulations of the telecom sector is available via the below link: https://cra.gov.qa/en/Regulatory-Framework/Dispute-Resolution-Framework
Mohamed Ali al-Mannai
