FAS ISSUED WARNINGS TO THE “BIG” FOUR” OPERATORS

The “Big Four” operators must eliminate discriminatory contract conditions within 14 days without deteriorating mass text messaging customers

On 19 June 2018, FAS issued warnings to “VympelCom” PJSC, “MTS” PJSC, “MegaFon” PJSC and “T2Mobile” Ltd.  to stop actions that had signs of violating the antimonopoly law.

For the purposes of informational, service and transaction mailing, operators provide mass text messaging services to organizations, including banks.

Based on its investigation, FAS found that the contract conditions with organizations that do not have state participation in the capital differ considerably from contracts with other organizations.

FAS recognizes such actions as signs of breaching Clause 8 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”: creating discriminatory conditions when consumers of mass text messaging were put in unequal conditions.

Also, actions of “VympelCom” PJSC abolishing transliteration of mass text messaging form Cyrillic to Latin characters increased the costs of mass text messaging twofold, the operator’s actions were not justified.

FAS classifies such actions of   “VympelCom” PJSC under Clause 3 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.

In addition, “VympelCom” PJSC must withdraw it notification that mass text messaging cannot be transliterated.