No telecom rate cuts in Oman for now, confirms Majlis A’Shura member

Muscat: There would be no reduction in the rates of telecommunication services by Omantel and Ooredoo, Sultan bin Majid Al Abri, Member of Office of Majlis A’Shura confirmed.
In a statement to Al Shabiba he pointed to that Omantel promised the Services and Social Development Committee of Majlis A’Shura to introduce new packages of services in mid-November and that officials of Ooredoo too have promised new packages of services every 90 days.
The statement came after a meeting held between the Services and Social Development Committee and the two companies.
He said that TRA was not invited to the meeting, but added, “We think that the TRA should be present to discuss the condition of telecommunications, something which would happen after this meeting.”
Dr. Hamood bin Ahmed Al Yahya’ei, Chairman of the Services and Social Development Committee said during the meeting held between the Committee and the two companies that “the Committee has facts and figures based on studies conducted by the TRA confirming the increase of telecommunication services in the Sultanate.”
He said that the committee is of the opinion that the rates of telecommunication services have to be re-considered and a “reduction should be applied” .
“We were acquainted with the studies before we met with the two companies and we have in cooperation with the members of the Majlis A’Shura in exerting pressure on the two companies for providing the best services and reasonable rates as far as possible” he said.
The officials of the two companies believed that some prices of services offered were better than the prices offered by other companies in some other countries and that the officials of the two companies have no objection to a study by an independent body on the prices and quality of services they provide in the Sultanate.
“The two companies are ready to cooperate in conducting the study and to implementing the findings of the study” he said pointing to that the Majlis A’Shura would for conducting such a study at the earliest, he added.
A report would be prepared by the Services and Social Development Committee of Majlis A’Shura, he said adding that the report would then be submitted to the Office of Majlis A’Shura to take the necessary steps as per the applicable system. The two companies have accepted formation of a joint committee, he said.