-6- a. Prepare the Authority’s telecommunications general policy and submit it to the Cabinet for approval and improvement so as to extend the area covered by telecommunications networks to meet economic and social development needs. b. Elaborate plans for the promotion of investment in the telecommunications sector and create a competitive environment among service suppliers to ensure cost-effective telecommunications services; c. Follow up the relevant authorities’ fulfilment of the Authority’s international commitments in the telecommunications sectors; d. Uphold the Authority’s interests in other countries and within regional and international organisations and relevant telecommunications federations and committees. It shall equally represent the Authority, in conjunction with the competent ministries and departments, before such regulatory agencies; e. Regulate the Authority telecommunications sector in such a way as to keep up with telecommunications technology development; f. Raise awareness of telecommunications and work towards providing various types of telecommunications services; g. Protect telecommunications beneficiaries’ interests, monitor the performance of licensed telecommunications services suppliers, and take the measures necessary to bind those suppliers to abide by the license terms, including the service quality and its improvement. Article 7 To fulfil its missions and achieve its objectives, the Ministry shall: 1. Implement the telecommunications official policy; 2. Ensure the administrative, technical and financial monitoring of any public would-be telephone company, determine its obligations, control compliance with regulations, submit proposals to the Council of Ministers towards granting licenses and bind private sector investors to abide by the terms and conditions of the license and policy of the international protocol on tariffs;