OREANDA-NEWS. February 14, 2011. FAS Russia obligated the “Big Three” providers to inform subscribers about changes in the payment system for communication services in international roaming. According to the determination of the Antimonopoly Service, by 31st March 2011 the largest cell phone operators in Russia must start informing their subscribers about possible changes in the payment system for the roaming communication services, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 22nd October 2010, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that “MTS” OJSC, “VympelCom” OJSC and “MegaPhon” OJSC violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

The companies violated the law by fixing and maintaining monopolistically high prices for roaming services (voice services, services for transmitting SMS-messages, data transmission services), and by improper information of their subscribers about the payment procedures for roaming communication services.

Having investigated cases against “MTS” OJSC, “VympelCom” OJSC and “MegaPhon” OJSC, FAS Russia issued a determination to reduce the rates for communication services in national and international roaming in the CIS member-states.

From 30th September to 25th December 2010 the providers executed the determination of the antimonopoly authority in the part of antimonopoly rates for roaming services in the CIS:

- voice information (incoming and outcoming calls) - by 1.5-3 times,

- transmitting SMS-messages - by 2 times,

- GPRS data transmission - by 2.5-4 times.

The rates for communication services in the national roaming were also decreased roughly by the same value.

According to the determination of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, by no later than 31st March 2011 “MTS” OJSC, “VympelCom” OJSC and “MegaPhon” OJSC must start informing their subscribers about possible changes in the payment system for the communication services in international roaming.

Reference:

The determination issued to the providers of mobile radio-telephone communication services does not cover the rates for “intra-network” roaming and the rates for the roaming communications services outside the CIS member-states.