Landline and mobile telephone companies will operate under licenses issued by ictQATAR. By law, it is our responsibility to ensure that competition is introduced into the marketplace fairly and legally. It is also our responsibility to make sure telephony companies do what their licenses say they must do - consumer protections are outlined in the Telecommunications Law and related regulations issued by ictQATAR.

As part of our commitment to full transparency, consumers will be able to link from the ictQATAR website to the websites of mobile and landline operators. Providers must clearly post tariffs and contracts on their website so consumers understand their contractual rights and service terms. Documents will be in both Arabic and English.

Telecoms competition puts power squarely in consumers' hands. Business and individual customers have the right to quality customer service and to the best value in telecommunications products and services. And for the first time, customers have the right to resolution of a dispute by an independent regulator if a dispute cannot be resolved directly with the service provider ictQATAR will issue a free guide outlining the entire range of relevant consumer rights as well as consumer responsibilities. The guide will be available during 2008.