FAS gave operators two weeks to cancel domestic roaming

The Federal Antimonopoly Service gave operators two weeks to cancel roaming within Russia. FAS considered the unjustified difference in roaming prices for subscribers of "expensive" and "cheap" tariffs. In the event of non-compliance with the prescription, the "Big Four" operators face a fine, as well as the collection of unreasonably earned income.

The difference in prices is not justified

Operators must notify subscribers about changes within ten days. Also, the Federal Antimonopoly Service issued warnings to Vimpelcom, MTS, Megafon and T2 Mobile.

In the actions of operators FAS found signs of violation of the law on the protection of competition. The companies installed and supported different tariffs for cellular services in the home region and on trips around Russia. At the same time, the more expensive the subscriber's tariff plan is, the less for him the difference in tariffs for mobile communication services at home and on trips.

After analyzing the price proposals and the terms of the technical organization of the provision of communication services, the FAS found that these actions are neither economically nor technologically justified. The four mobile operators should change the tariffs for communication services on trips, eliminating the unjustified price difference.

What kind of roaming is it?

Now in Russia there are several types of roaming: national, intranet and separately in the Crimea. Intranet roaming operates within a certain network throughout the country and differs by region. National roaming is valid when a certain operator's network is not present in any region.

As explained by the head of the Communications and Information Technologies Department of the FAS Elena Zaeva, the FAS warning concerns intranet roaming. "By national decision (to issue a warning - Ed.) Until the end of this week," she added.

If prices do not change

If the operators fail to comply with the warning of the agency, an antitrust case may be brought against them. Three months are allocated for its consideration, and an extension of six is ​​possible.

"If the FAS raises a case and the commission decides on the fact of violation of the antimonopoly legislation, administrative responsibility arises, but you know that the antimonopoly authority has such an instrument as transferring unreasonably received income to the federal budget." We are entitled to apply this measure, "she told journalists. Zaeva.

At the same time, she noted that the regulator's warning provides for the subsequent cancellation of intranet roaming in Russia. "If the warning is complied with, or the antimonopoly body orders, the roaming will be completely canceled," the representative of the FAS explained.

Delete the concept itself

Earlier it was reported that FAS plans to remove from the legislation the concept of domestic roaming. According to the head of the department Igor Artemyev, this concept will remain as a technical characteristic, but will disappear as a legal category that allows introducing an additional fee.

"I believe that the presence of roaming in the Crimea or in the Moscow region for Muscovites is just a shame." What, is it not in our own country that we live? " Said Artemiev.

He also cited the example of the EU, all 28 member countries which refused to roam inside the union.

The new rules came into force in the European Union on June 15, mobile operators had two years to prepare for the cancellation of roaming charges. At the same time roaming for foreigners who have come to the EU has survived.

Anachronism and redundancy

With the initiative to cancel national roaming at the end of June, "Fair Russia" also made a relevant bill to the State Duma. As the faction leader Sergey Mironov noted, domestic roaming was introduced in the country under the pretext of compensatory measures to cellular companies that were initially forced to make connections through a single all-Russian telecom operator and carried additional costs because of this.

"But today such a mechanism is used extremely rarely, so the payment for internal roaming has become just an anachronism, not to mention its redundancy," the press service quotes Mironov.

Later, the deputy said that the initiative was "cheered up" by citizens and supported by the FAS, but the Communications Ministry believes that it will provoke a great social tension, as it will lead to an increase in tariffs for mobile communications. Therefore, Mironov proposed to hold parliamentary hearings and discuss the problem comprehensively.

Will there be a rise in tariffs?

According to the editor-in-chief of the Internet portal "Mobile Telecommunications" Leonti Bukshtein, the FAS decision should not in general affect the cost of tariff plans.

"Operators are companies with good marketing, they consider money well, but after the FAS order to abolish roaming, nobody will lift the tariffs." Simply, I think, some services, offers, options in tariffs will be reimbursed to themselves, " Expert on the radio Sputnik.

In the FAS itself, it was also said earlier that they do not expect a rise in prices for cellular communications after the cancellation of roaming, since tariff reduction is compensated by the growth in the volume of services.