The UAE Telecommunication Regularity Authority (TRA) has announced the implementation of new price caps for Intra-GCC roaming services by UAE’s mobile operators.

On an average, the International roaming prices for UAE customers who travel to GCC countries have fallen by 18 per cent starting from April 1, following the new directive.

The reduction in international roaming prices in the GCC countries focuses on the key services that subscribers need to use while roaming. The GCC roaming prices for data services fell by 35 per cent on an average while the prices of receiving calls during roaming in GCC decreased by 19 per cent and SMS while roaming costs 13 per cent less, a statement said.

In addition, the reduction in roaming prices in the GCC also includes making local call services in the GCC countries, international calls to the UAE and international calls to other GCC countries, the statement said.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA director general, stated: “The TRA was actively represented in the GCC’s Working Group’s meetings to study the regulation of roaming prices in the GCC countries. The implementation of the price caps by all mobile operators in the GCC represents a great achievement for GCC countries regionally and internationally.

"The TRA strives to achieve the satisfaction and happiness of the customers and the TRA is making unremitting efforts to raise the quality of the services provided by the telecommunications sector to better serve the UAE’s customers and to ensure that they have access to quality services at competitive prices. We are looking forward to the positive impact that the implementation of this directive will have on the UAE customers travelling to the GCC,” he said.

Under an agreement, mobile operators in the UAE are to reduce intra-GCC prices according to predetermined price caps in five phases on April 1 of each year starting from 2016 to 2020.  - TradeArabia News Service