ELENA ZAEVA: WE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CONSUMER SATISFACTION WITH THE COMPETITION

Issues of regulation of the communications market were discussed at an online press conference in the social networks of the FAS Russia

The main issue in the discussion concerned the access of telecom operators to apartment buildings.

Elena Zaeva, Head of the Department for Regulation of Communications and Information Technology of the FAS Russia, noted that this issue has been pinpointed by the FAS Russia since 2009. The event is included in the Roadmap for Development of Competition approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.

“Currently, a draft Federal Law has been developed that defines the procedure for telecom operators' access to apartment buildings. While it is under consideration in the State Duma, we expect its adoption in the near future. Since the issue is very important for the development of competition and for the penetration of broadband access to modern communication services in apartment buildings in our country, it is worth paying attention to the decrease in consumer satisfaction with such services,” Elena Zaeva noted.

The speaker also spoke about the case against the telecom operator Tele2, which the Agency initiated due to the company's failure to comply with a warning in connection with the increase in tariffs for communication services since May 12, 2020.

“According to the warning, the company had to return tariffs for communication services to the level set before May 12, 2020, within 14 calendar days of receiving the warning. The telecom operator did not comply with the warning of the Antimonopoly authority, on the basis of which the FAS Russia initiated a case of violation of the Antimonopoly legislation,” the Head of the Department explained.

Elena Zaeva also commented the topic of further reduction of tariffs by mobile operators in roaming, including reducing the cost of cellular services in the Crimea.

“After consideration of the antimonopoly case in 2018, tariffs for various communication services of the “big four” operators in national roaming were reduced to 10 times. As for roaming in the Crimea, it is technically impossible to cancel it, since subscribers connect to the network of other telecom operators when arriving on the peninsula. In other words, subscribers are staying in national roaming. However, speaking of the economic basis, over the past years tariffs have been reduced (either with the help of antimonopoly cases, or without). We expect that another step will be taken by the end of this autumn, which will contribute to further reduction of tariffs,” she said.