Gulf Nations to Debate Lower Roaming Costs

­Telecoms regulators in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are to meet to discuss plans to push down roaming costs in the region. According to a report by Qatar News Agency, the talks will "consider the necessary measures to reduce the charges for mobiles calls within the region".

Last year, government ministers from the GCC) announced that they will take the necessary measures to reduce the roaming charges for mobiles calls within the region, but little regulatory action has taken place since then. Although the regulators have been quiet, several operators have expanded their roaming services, and Zain has enlarged its borderless roaming zone.

A separate body, the Arab Regulators Network (AREGNET) has also called for regulators to lower roaming costs. The AREGNET covers twenty-one nations in North Africa and the Middle East.

On the web: Qatar News Agency

Posted to the site on 12th October 2009