Ministry urges telecom companies to end prepaid plans cut-off
Alshaheen News
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply has called on telecom companies to reverse a recent decision disconnecting prepaid phone plans the day following the expiration of the subscription, and not to take any decisions that “violate market mechanisms and free competition”.
In a statement Sunday, Minister Maha Ali said the ministry had officially addressed local mobile operators to “stop this practice which risks liability”.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission forwarded to the ministry complaints against the three mobile operators regarding the cut-off of prepaid plans on the day after the subscription expires, the minister noted.
Ali indicated that a study into the issue by the ministry’s department of competition found out that the three telecom firms applied new conditions on the disconnection of prepaid lines, something, she said, breached competition and limited options before subscribers.
Previously, telecom companies granted pre-paid mobile subscribers a month to receive calls after the subscription ends. However, the three companies have recently pursued a new policy prepaid plans cutting them off just a day after the subscription expires.
The Competition Law No. (33) of 2004 and amendments thereto prohibit, subject to liability, any practices that violate, limit or prevent competition, especially those whose subject or purpose is to fix the prices of goods or service fees or the conditions of sale and the like.
