The move comes ahead of plans by regional regulators to enforce cuts for all operators across the region.

The state-owned Qatari telecoms company will introduce 50 per cent discounts for the customers of its operating companies in Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

Qtel will start the discounts in March. The discount package, called Smartroamer, covers Wataniya customers in Kuwait, Nawras customers in Oman and Qtel customers in Qatar.

Many of the Middle East's largest telecoms operators are under pressure to cut international roaming charges to compete with Zain, Kuwait's largest operator, which offers international calls at national rates in countries where it operates a network.

The 18-strong Arab Regulators Network is meeting in April to endorse a plan to cut roaming charges across the region (MEED 13:02:09).

If the regulators approve the plan, they will ask their national governments to enforce the price cuts.