(3) facilitate the entry into markets for communications services of persons wishing to supply such
networks and services;
(4) ensure that operators, suppliers and installers meet their commercial obligations and such other
obligations specified under this Proclamation in a manner which promotes co-operation and fairness;
(5) protect operators, suppliers and installers and the public from the unfair conduct of other
operators, suppliers and installers, regarding quality of services and payment of tariffs;
(6) ensure that operators, suppliers and installers achieve the highest possible level of accountability
and responsiveness to customer and community needs;
(7) ensure that standard telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services are supplied as
efficiently and economically as possible and at such performance standards which reasonably meet the
social, industrial, and commercial needs of the community;
(8) promote the development of the other sectors of the Eritrean economy through the commercial
supply of modern communications services within the framework of this Proclamation;
(9) establish technical standards and promote the development of Eritrea's communications
capabilities, industries and skills;
(10) ensure that the Eritrean public have growing access to communications; and
(11) optimise the use of communications networks and services in Eritrea with due consideration for
the rights of the operators, suppliers and installers and the public interest.
6. Functions of the Department
The Department shall have the following functions:
(1) the responsibility for economic and technical regulation of communications industry;
(2) to ensure the safety and quality of communications services by determining technical standards
and regulating technical execution and performance;
(3) the responsibility for giving advice and assistance to the communications industry;
(4) the promotion of competition in those areas of the communications industry where competition
has been introduced;
(5) to facilitate the entry into the market for communications services by persons wishing to supply
such services;
(6) to establish and manage the Rural Telecommunications Fund;
(7) to arbitrate disputes between operators, suppliers and installers and other participants in the
communications industry;
(8) to receive and investigate complaints from operators, suppliers and installers, consumers and
other persons in the communications industry;
(9) the responsibility for the protection of the public interest by ensuring that the provisions of this
Proclamation are carried out with due regard to public interest;
(10) the protection of consumers from unfair practice of operators, suppliers and installers and other
persons in the supply of communications services;
(11) to develop performance standards and indices relating to the quality of communications services;
(12) the issuance of regulatory documents in accordance with the provisions of this Proclamation; and
(13) to monitor the conduct of the operators, suppliers and installers and to enforce the conditions
included in the permits.
7. Powers of the Department