CITRA moves to regulate telecom service distributors in Kuwait
This regulatory move reflects CITRA’s effort to professionalize the telecom distribution sector, enhance user protection, and support Kuwait’s digital growth agenda
Kuwait’s Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) has launched regulatory measures for mobile and virtual telecom service distributors, aiming to improve service quality, boost transparency, and support fair competition in line with rapid digital transformation, reports Al-Anba daily.
Key Developments — Draft Regulation Released: CITRA introduced a public consultation draft for the “Regulations for Mobile and Virtual Telecommunications Services Distributors”, emphasizing participatory policymaking; Objective: Establish clear licensing rules, enhance governance, and develop a competitive telecom environment aligned with digital innovation and sustainability.
Licensing Requirements — Must be a Kuwaiti LLC or joint-stock company with at least 10 branches; submission of a business and technical proposal, agreement draft with telecom company, and proof of national labor quota; payment of an annual 5,000 dinars license fee and an unconditional 5,000 dinars bank guarantee and license is valid for one year and renewable.
Restrictions — Subcontracting is strictly prohibited; only licensed authorized distributors can sell or activate telecom services.
Obligations of Telecom Companies — Deal only with licensed distributors; ensure technical readiness, employee training, and direct system linkages; prohibited from pre-registering SIM or eSIMs in names other than actual users and must report violations and disclose commission arrangements to CITRA.
Obligations of Distributors — Abide by CITRA’s rules; ensure employee identification, system security, camera installations, and national labor compliance and report any contracts or renewals in advance and share training records with CITRA.
General Provisions — Both telecom companies and distributors must provide CITRA with full data access; exclusivity in contracts is allowed, if mutually agreed upon and service allocation rights are exclusive to licensed mobile and virtual telecom companies.
This regulatory move reflects CITRA’s effort to professionalize the telecom distribution sector, enhance user protection, and support Kuwait’s digital growth agenda.
