Agence Ecofin writes that Tunisiana, Tunisia’s largest cellco by subscribers, has been forced to drop a number of popular promotions following intervention from sector regulator the National Telecommunications Commission (INT). The INT ruled earlier this year that Tunisiana’s promotion offering 100% bonus credit for topping up was anti-competitive and forbade the practice after protests from rival operators from Tunisie Telecom (TT) and Orange Tunisia. Taieb Farhat, Tunisiana’s chief commercial manager, responded to criticism from its customers by saying: ‘For the sake of establishing a healthy and balanced environment that is beneficial for both operators and consumers and also for the state, the regulator has established guidelines that block several commercial actions that have proved popular with Tunisiana’s subscribers.’ Farhat added that the company respects the decision of INT and has acquiesced to the regulator’s instruction, acknowledging the dissatisfaction that the withdrawal of the offers has fostered amongst its user base. Farhat went on to say that whilst Tunisiana does not wish to disappoint its subscribers, it could not address their complaints without the approval of the INT.
In related news, Tunisiana will undergo a restructuring programme which will split the company into separate consumer and business divisions, and a change of name to Ooredoo Tunisia, in line with the rebranding of Qatari parent company Ooredoo (previously Qatar Telecom, Qtel).