TRA To Formalise Act To Look Into Dominance By Telecom Companies

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is in the process of formalising an act to look into market dominance by telecom companies and provide remedies to address the risks that arise for consumers and competition in consequence.

The authority has established rules and guidelines relating to the analysis and definition of markets for telecommunication services in Oman, namely Decision 69/2012 (Ex ante Regulation – the Regulation of Dominance).

In accordance with these rules and guidelines the authority has prepared a preliminary analysis with preliminary recommendations in the draft Market Definition and Dominance Report, which is the subject of a public consultation.

The authority is seeking comments from interested parties, stakeholders and the public on the report, so that such comments can be considered before it acts formally on the matter.

The public consultation is concerned with the application of principles on four distinct matters that relate to the ex ante regulation of markets for dominance, namely the definition of markets for telecommunication network services in Oman; the consideration of the markets as defined in terms of their susceptibility or suitability for ex ante regulation, analysis of susceptible or suitable markets to determine if there are dominant operators in each of the relevant markets, and, if so, the nature of that dominance, and whether it is the dominance of a single operator or joint dominance involving more than one operator; and determination of the remedies appropriate to the circumstances of the relevant market and of the nature and extent of the dominance identified in it.

The public consultation must be submitted in writing by October 3. The authority also intends to conduct a workshop on the report for licensees and other invited stakeholders before October 3.

Muscat Daily