Nawras comment

1. Nawras
P.O.Box874
P.C.111
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SuLtanateofOman
Tet:+96822002200
Fax:+96822002299
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MuhammedSaeed
ActingSeniorManager
EconomicAffairsUnit
TetecommunicationsRegutatoryAuthority
P0 Box579
Ruwi112
SuttanateofOman
OurRef:JM/JT/ 3%.QP-/2011
24September2011
DearMuhammed,
Re:Publicconsultationon''DraftCodeofPracticeonTariffTransparency''
Werefertoyourtetterdated21August2011(ref:TRA/ECON/161/9803/2011)withtheabove
mentionedsubject.
Kindtyfindenctosedourfeedbackregardingthesame.
We wetcome
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TM 's Public Consultation on Draft
Code of Practice on Tariff
T ransparency
Naw ras'response
24 Septem ber2011

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1 Executive Sum m ary
1.1 Introduction
We thankthe TRA forconducting thisconsuttation and forgiving Nawrasan
opportunitytoprovidecommentsonthisimportanttopic.
Nawras supports the idea of transparency in tariffs în order to protect
beneficiaries.We thinkthisisahightyappropriate objective forthe industry
andinpracticeitissomethingthatNawrasatreadystrivestoachieve.
We trustthatthe TRA findsourcommentsusefutand we woutd wetcome the
opportunity offurtherdiscussion with the TRA regardingthisissue.We woutd
atso encourage the TRA to continue its diatogue with the industry and to
circutate furthercommentsforconsideration afterthe TRA hasassessed the
responsesitreceivestothisconsuttation.
1.2 Summaryofkeypoints
We setoutin section 2 betow ourdetaited commentson the suggested code.
We respectfuttyputforwardourmainpoints:
Additionatty,we atso make the fottowing generatobservationsregarding this
issue:
(a) weconsiderthatitwoutdbegoodfortheTRAtoexptainthetegatbasis
forthe proposed code and how itwitttînk to the current taws and
regutationsandoperatorticences;
(b) theprovisionofsufficientandaccurateinformationbyoperatorsneeds
tobecomptimentedbyaraisingofthegeneratawarenessofconsumers
throughindustryeducationcampaignsinitiatedbytheTRA;and
the principtesoftarifftransparency need tobe imptementedwithinan
environment that atso encourages operators to detiver innovative
products and services with taitored and sophisticated tariff options;
and
(d) weconsiderthattheTRAshoutdmovetoasystem ofex-postregutation
on tariffapprovatsand thatthe imptementation ofcodesofpractice
tikethatproposedhere,areanaturatcomptementforsuchamove.

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2 Detailed com m ents
2.1 Ingenerat,wehavenoobjectiontothedraftCode.Wekindtyput
herewithsomecomments,inparticutartothefottowingsectionsonthe
Code:
Section2.1.DutytodisclosePriceLimitations,TermsandConditions
We agree with the TRA thatitisimportantthatcustomershave easy
access to the termsand conditionsof theirselwice and that attkey
termsretatingtotheirservicearedisctosedtothem.
Itisourview thatthe currentpractice ofmakingtermsand conditions
ofservicesavaitabte atthe pointofpurchase,through theinternetand
throughcustomerservice issufficientin thisregard.We considerthat
the current practice is working wettand therefore shoutd not be
materiatty changed in the absence ofcompetting reasons. Ifthe TRA
hassuchreasonswe kindtyrequestthattheTRA providethose
In retation to optingin to a service,we considerthatitisonerousto
require customers to specificatty accept the ''vatidity period'' in
isotation to att terms and conditions. We consider that a generat
acceptance issufficientprovided thatthe customerhaseasyaccessto
retevanttermsandconditionsinctudingvatidityperiod.
Itisatsoworth notingthatthesuggested SMSrespondwoutdontyappty
tomobitesubscribersanddoesnotconsiderfixedtineusers.
In retation to corporate customerswe considerthatitisnotnecessary
fortariffs to be pubtished because this has the potentiatto hamper
competition between operators and atso because we consider that
generattycorporate pricingcanbe tefttothe marketwithoutthe need
for regutatory intervention. It is our humbte opinion that such
information may be providedforcorporatecustomersand/orpotentiat
corporate customerson a case by case basis.Thispractise iswidety
adoptedinthe regionaswettasinternationatty.
Section2.1.5yonitoringtheusage
Itemizedbittingcanbesubmitted upon request.
We suggestto theTRA thatinstead ofprescribing specific information
required to be presented,which maynotbe retevanttoeveryselwice,
the TRA coutd take a broader view and simpty ensure that service
providers presentattrelevantormaterialinformation regarding the
tariffsandfortheinformationtobectearand readityaccessibte.

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Section2.3.2TI/I'fJJoptionswithinclusivetimeorcredit
Itmaynotbefeasibte to mentionatLtheinformationtïstedontheCode
on att ''pubtications'' and certainty not on outdoor or newspaper
advertisements.Itisourview thatprovidedsuchdetaiLedinformationis
made avaitabte to consumers priorto the time ofpurchase,consumer
protectionhasoccurred.
We agree with the TRA that comprehensive information shoutd be
avaitabte through muttipte channetsinctuding stores,websitesand/or
cattcentres,asisthecurrentNawras'practice.
Section4.ServiceTerm inationorSuspension
We agree with the generatidea that the tegaLobtigations of both
parties need to be respected. In the absence of any faiture by an
operatortocomptywith tegatand regutatory requirements(inctuding
those proposed inthe Code)then contractuatcommitmentshoutdbe
honouredbybothparties,inctudinganyterminationtiabitity.
In reference to the requirementforthe Licensee to compensate the
beneficiaryforanyoutstanding payment,thisiscorrectand isa tegat
requirement.The amountto be paid to the beneficiary woutd need to
be determined aftertaking into consideration any requirementforthe
beneficiary to pay any outstanding charges inctuding any termination
retatedcharges.
We raiseagainourgeneratposition in retationto corporate customers,
which isthatthey require tessregutatory intervention/protection and
such intervention/protection, has the tendency to stifte corporate
activity ratherthan assistit.Thisprincipte oftreating consumerand
businessdifferenttyfrom a regutatory perspective iswidety adopted in
the regionaswettasinternationatty.
Section5.1yobileNumberPortabilit;
We agree with TM 's sentiment in terms of raising awareness to
beneficiarieswhenmakingoff-netcatts.Thefirstproposatmade bythe
TRA isthe easiestandthe bestandisconsistentwithcurrentpractice.
The secondand thirdoptionsare cumbersomeand expensiveandtikety
to resutt in increased costs for the industry. Further, it is our
experience thatthisissueisnotsignificant.IftheTRA hotdsacontrary
view we woutdweLcome receivingfrom theTRA itsexperience aswetL
assomeevidenceoftheextentoftheperceived probtem .

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WehopetheTRA findsourdetaitedcommentsinsection3usefut.Weatso hope
thatthe TRAwitttakeintoconsiderationthe fottowinggeneratpointsregarding
thistopic:
Conclusion
weconsiderthatitwoutdbegoodfortheTRAtoexptainthetegatbasis
forthe proposed code and how itwitttink to the current Lawsand
regutationsandoperatorticences;
(b) theprovisionofsufficientandaccurateinformationbyoperatorsneeds
to becomptimented byaraisingofthegeneratawarenessofconsumers
throughindustryeducationcampaignsinitiatedbytheTRA;
the principtesoftarifftransparencyneedtobe imptementedwithinan
environment that atso encourages operators to detiver innovative
products and services with taitored and sophisticated tariffoptïons;
and
weconsiderthattheTRAshoutdmovetoasystem ofex-postregutation
on tariffapprovatsand thatthe imptementation ofcodesofpractice
tikethatproposedhere,areanaturatcomptementforsuchamove.
We woutd wetcome the opportunity of further discussion with the TRA
regardingthisissue andweare avaitabtetoanswerquestionsorprovidefurther
informationifrequested.