DUSHANBE, November 3, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The Antimonopoly Agency under the Government of Tajikistan is reportedly ready to review tariffs on outbound calls to the Russian Federation.

We will recall that mobile phone operators functioning in Tajikistan have raised tariff on outbound calls to  Russia and a consolidated tariff on outbound calls to Russia for all mobile phone operators functioning in Tajikistan – US$0.12 per one minute (VAT and 3-percent excise duty included) – was introduced on November 1.

“We are ready to review tariffs on outbound calls to Russia but for this, mobile phone operators must present solid arguments,” an official source at the antimonopoly agency told Asia-Plus in an interview.

He is, however, sure that the mobile phone operators will not ant to work at a loss work, and therefore, they will not apply for reducing call tariffs.

The mobile phone operators say they have raised call tariffs this month in line with the ruling handed down by the antimonopoly agency and requirements issued by the Communications Service under the Government of Tajikistan on September 27, 2012.

Meanwhile, an official source at the antimonopoly agency says the mobile phone operators should have raised tariffs on outbound calls to Russia in May 2011.  “An appropriate ruling was handed down on April 26 last year following a request by the mobile phone operators themselves,” said the source.  “Affiliates of Russian mobile phone companies operating in Tajikistan justified the request by saying that they received an offer from Russia to raise tariffs up to 8 cents per minute, and therefore, the tariffs were reviewed.”

In April last year, the antimonopoly agency reportedly handed down ruling to raise tariffs on outbound calls to Russia to 12 cents per minute (VAT and excise duty included).  “Analysis of the mobile phone market has shown that some companies whose head offices are located in Russia have used their advantageous situation and cut the prices.  Thereby, they have put other mobile phone operators at a disadvantage,” the source added.

According to him, four Tajik large mobile phone operators that are on the register of dominating entities have been fined for ignoring the anti-monopoly agency’s ruling to raise tariffs on outbound calls to Russia.

Megafon-Tajikistan, Babilon-M, Tcell and Tacom (Beeline) are currently on the register of dominating entities.