Commission Directs Telecom Companies to Double the Mechanisms for Disclosing the Characteristics and Features of Packages Offered to Users

The Communications and Information Technology Commission today directed telecom companies in the Kingdom to double the mechanisms for disclosing the details of the main characteristics and features related to the packages and offers presented by companies to users, in a manner that ensures they are made known according to the conditions and controls set by the Commission.

The Vice Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission for Regulatory and Competition Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi, affirmed that this directive reflects the Commission's commitment to enabling users to make appropriate decisions before subscribing to any package with telecom companies, noting in this context that the Commission will require telecom companies to double the mechanisms for disclosing all details related to packages.

Examples of the characteristics and features covered by the directive include: (the additional features and exceptions added to or excluded from the basic services provided in the package, specifying the time period during which the customer is bound to the package in exchange for obtaining the service or product, clarifying the daily data usage limit (in gigabytes) beyond which the internet speed is reduced to the speed stated in the speed field, known as the "fair use limit," in addition to disclosing the billing unit adopted by telecom companies in calculating the customer's use of voice calls and data).

Dr. Al-Tamimi affirmed that this directive is binding on all telecom companies in the Kingdom, adding that users have the right to request telecom companies to disclose the details and data of the features and characteristics associated with the package they wish to obtain or subscribe to. Al-Tamimi noted that the Commission will look into reports submitted by users in the event that any telecom company fails to comply with the Commission's directive, and will take regulatory action against it in accordance with the Telecom Law and its implementing regulations.