DOHA: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) yesterday issued a comprehensive competition framework to clarify anti-competitive behaviours in the communications sector and associated assessments and actions that will be taken by CRA if a service provider is found to have engaged in anti-competitive behaviour.
The main components of the framework, result of a transparent consultation process that engaged key stakeholders, are a Competition Policy, market assessment methodology and a complaints process.
CRA is Qatar’s communications regulator established by virtue of Emiri Decree (42) in 2014.
“We developed this policy to ensure that the market remains competitive and so that all stakeholders understand that CRA will not hesitate to initiate investigations into anti-competitive behaviours that pose challenges in the delivery of effective competition,” said Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, President of CRA.
“The policy will be implemented in telecommunication and postal sectors as well as access to digital media, the areas under CRA’s direct jurisdiction. Furthermore, this policy will also ensure that consumers receive the benefits of thriving competition in the market,” he added. Specifically, this policy prohibits agreements that may prevent or substantially limit competition. Such actions include price fixing, sharing of markets and customers, limiting or controlling investments and agreements for fixed and minimum resale price maintenance. The prohibition can apply to different types of behaviours such as disclosing strategic information; or raising barriers which lead to anti-competitive foreclosures of other suppliers or buyers.
Importantly, the policy details the actions that CRA can take if a service provider is found to have infringed the prohibition on abuse of dominant positions or anti-competitive behaviour. CRA will ensure that remedies are sufficiently well targeted and do not have adverse competitive effects; and that the implementation costs of the remedy do not outweigh its benefits.
CRA may also respond to anti-competitive behaviour with remedial actions ranging from enforcement of a specific behaviour on the service providers involved in the alleged infringements of the competition aspects of the Telecommunications Law or structural remedies depending on each case.
The Peninsula
DOHA: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) yesterday issued a comprehensive competition framework to clarify anti-competitive behaviours in the communications sector and associated assessments and actions that will be taken by CRA if a service provider is found to have engaged in anti-competitive behaviour.
The main components of the framework, result of a transparent consultation process that engaged key stakeholders, are a Competition Policy, market assessment methodology and a complaints process.
CRA is Qatar’s communications regulator established by virtue of Emiri Decree (42) in 2014.
“We developed this policy to ensure that the market remains competitive and so that all stakeholders understand that CRA will not hesitate to initiate investigations into anti-competitive behaviours that pose challenges in the delivery of effective competition,” said Mohammed Ali Al Mannai, President of CRA.
“The policy will be implemented in telecommunication and postal sectors as well as access to digital media, the areas under CRA’s direct jurisdiction. Furthermore, this policy will also ensure that consumers receive the benefits of thriving competition in the market,” he added. Specifically, this policy prohibits agreements that may prevent or substantially limit competition. Such actions include price fixing, sharing of markets and customers, limiting or controlling investments and agreements for fixed and minimum resale price maintenance. The prohibition can apply to different types of behaviours such as disclosing strategic information; or raising barriers which lead to anti-competitive foreclosures of other suppliers or buyers.
Importantly, the policy details the actions that CRA can take if a service provider is found to have infringed the prohibition on abuse of dominant positions or anti-competitive behaviour. CRA will ensure that remedies are sufficiently well targeted and do not have adverse competitive effects; and that the implementation costs of the remedy do not outweigh its benefits.
CRA may also respond to anti-competitive behaviour with remedial actions ranging from enforcement of a specific behaviour on the service providers involved in the alleged infringements of the competition aspects of the Telecommunications Law or structural remedies depending on each case.
The Peninsula
