OREANDA-NEWS. September 14, 2010. According to the company, it will be possible if the GSM operators support the initiative on reduction of prices for interconnection of networks. The interconnection of operators’ networks and the cost of this service is one of the major issues on the communication market. The tariffs for final consumers are based on these prices.

Before 2004 the prices for interconnection between the mobile and fixed communication networks were equal and accounted for 3,19 c/min. Then, at the suggestion of one of mobile operators, the ANRCETI raised the cost of calls to the mobile networks up to 7 cents. Today the situation didn’t change in spite of significant changes of the Moldavian market.

The number of mobile communication users increased several times: from 470 thousand in 2005 – to 2,8 million in January-June 2010. Accordingly, the expenditures of GSM operators for service of one call reduced considerably, and the users have the right to expect the reduction of tariffs. Moldtelecom, being one of the main participants of the communication market, considers it possible to reduce the tariffs for the final users for calls to the mobile networks, taking some measures for this. Particularly, in June Moldtelecom proposed to GSM operators to revise current prices for interconnection.

This week Moldtelecom submitted to the ANRCETI a letter with economic estimation of possibility to reduce from October 1 the cost of call from 7 to 4 c/min, that are to be applied both for calls from Moldtelecom fixed network to Orange, Moldcell and Unite mobile networks, and for calls within the mobile communication network. Besides, Moldtelecom is ready to reduce proportionally the prices for calls from other communication operators in its fixed network from 3,19 to 1,8 c/min. The ANRCETI also considers current prices are too high. According to the Agency, the high prices for interconnection, applied by mobile operators, prevent the development of competitive environment and affect the cost of services for final users.

The fact that these tariffs are higher than the real cost is proved by the researches in the field of prices for interconnection, in accordance with the LRIC methodology, applied by foreign communication operators. These researches had been carried out with the participation of international consultants and financed by the European Bank for reconstruction and Development within the project on development and regulation of the Moldavian communication market. At the same time Moldtelecom addressed to the Agency with the initiative to reduce the tariffs for calls from the fixed network to the mobile network for final users.

Thus, Moldtelecom proposes to fix from October 1 a single tariff for the users to the amount of 1,5 lei/min (without VAT) for calls from Moldtelecom fixed network to the networks of all mobile operators of Moldova. Currently, the tariff amounts to 2,5 lei (without VAT) for juridical persons and 2,08 lei (without VAT) – for physical persons.

Thus, if the price for operators for making calls in the mobile network reduces by 3 cents (or by 37,5 bani), then the tariff for physical persons reduces by 70 bani, and for juridical persons – by 1,20 lei. Moldtelecom expressed confidence that all mobile operators would support the initiative as they meet the interested of the final user and favor the development of competition on the market.