OREANDA-NEWS. On 24 February 2009 CenterTelecom OJSC announced that in accordance with its General Director’s order and with decision #297-с/2 by Russia’s Federal Tariff Service (FTS) dated November 28, 2008, the company is increasing tariffs for local telecommunications services for residential and corporate subscribers, amending tariffs for inter-zone telecommunications services and introducing new tariff plans based on combined payment scheme in 17 regions of Russia’s Central Federal District.

On average in the localities of the Central Federal District where time-based local billing is technically possible, the city telephone network flat fee tariffs (including the payment for a dedicated telephone line) will be increased by 10% for residential subscribers and by 2.2% for corporate subscribers. City telephone network time-based tariffs will increase on average for residential customers by 8.1% for dedicated telephone line usage and by 11.5% per minute; for corporate clients the tariffs will rise by 6.9% for dedicated line usage and by 11.5% per minute. The company’s city telephone network combined tariffs will increase on average by 7.4% for residential customers and by 5% for corporate clients. In localities where time-based billing is not technically feasible city telephone network tariffs (including the payment for a dedicated line) will increase on average by 7.9% for residential customers and by 6.1% for corporate clients.

On average in localities of the Central Federal District where time-based local billing is technically feasible, rural telephone network flat fee tariffs will increase by 6.6% for residential subscribers and by 2.2% for corporate subscribers. The company’s rural telephone network combined tariffs will increase on average by 7% for residential customers and by 5% for corporate clients. In localities where time-based billing is not technically feasible rural telephone network tariffs (including payment for a dedicated telephone line) will increase by 7.8% for residential customers and by 6.1% for corporate clients.

Pavel Repin, Deputy General Director - Commercial Director, CenterTelecom OJSC, commenting on the increase of traditional telecommunications service prices, pointed out that CenterTelecom had operated for two years on tariff levels established by FTS in February 2007. “The accumulated level of inflation for these two years reached approximately 25%, so the current tariff changes for local telecommunications will allow us to meet inflation related expenses,” he added.

With effect from March 1, 2009, CenterTelecom will decrease tariffs by 21% for inter-zone voice, fax and data telecommunications connections in the second tariff zone (101-600 km) for the company’s fixed-line telecommunications service subscribers. The company is to establish a unified tariff for inter-zone telephone connections in the first tariff zone (up to 100 km) for Moscow region subscribers.

Moreover starting March 1, 2009 CenterTelecom will implement new combined tariff plans for residential customers in 17 regions of the Central Federal District. A “Social” tariff plan is focused on subscribers whose telephone traffic does not exceed 100 minutes per month. The cost (including payment for a dedicated telephone line) will amount to RUR164 per month for the Moscow region and RUR152 for other Central Federal District regions; payment per additional minute will be RUR0.38 for the Moscow region and RUR0.32 for other regions. A “Weekend” tariff plan is designed for subscribers who use the company’s services mainly on the weekend and holidays.