"However, the Commission is concluding the process of consultation with industry players and other stakeholders which started in January 2011," Ogong said.

The guidelines are aimed at curbing anticompetitive pricing practices that may be to the detriment of new market entrants. Ogong said that a series of below-cost tariff offerings have undermined long-term competition, sustainability and quality of service. He said some of the offerings border on predatory pricing or price cannibalism, which jeopardizes long-term consumer choice, affordability and overall economic growth.

In addition, according to the UCC, if the situation is left as is, it will lead to consumer confusion due to the frequency of change in the rates.

The guidelines, which the UCC said are still a draft, stipulate that there will be a distinction between promotional and standard tariffs. Standard tariffs in this case shall be cost-based, transparent and non-discriminatory. Off-net calls should not be priced below the UCC reference interconnection rate. On-net calls on the other hand will not be charged a rate below 70 percent of the interconnection charge. This is also below the current average on-net charge.

Further, promotional tariffs shall not be in the market for more than 90 consecutive calendar days.