OREANDA-NEWS. September 17, 2014. The third session of the International Working Group for developing roaming communications markets took place as part of an annual international event – “Competition Day in Russia”.

The interest toward the Working Group is increasing. For instance, representatives in competition authorities from11 countries took part in the third session, including Turkey, Russia, Egypt, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Serbia, Macedonia and the Czech Republic, as well as international organizations such as the Eurasian Economic Commission, CIS Executive Committee, Regional Community in the field of communications, and UNCTAD.

Participants discussed international experience, various mechanisms for achieving the objectives of reducing subscriber tariffs in roaming. They heard reports of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) and Turkey’s competition authority about the current situation on the markets of cellular communications in both countries and aspects of pricing for roaming communications services as well as tariffs applied in inter-operator roaming settlements.

Participants emphasized considerable importance of the discussed items as well as efficiency of an initiative put forward by Russian and Turkish competition authorities to undertake mutual measures aimed at reducing tariffs, supporting competition and protecting subscriber rights.

Upon the results of the discussion, members of the Working Group decided to formalize the main principles of cooperation between regulators and providers that will determine the conditions for tariff reduction. Also a detailed “Road Map” on reducing roaming tariffs and developing competition will be devised”, pointed out Deputy Head of FAS, Anatoly Golomolzin commenting the meeting outcome. “The main principles and the “Road Map” will be formalized in the Protocol and brought to notice of market participants in all countries - participants of the Working Group on roaming”.

The Working Group on roaming was formed upon an initiative of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) and Turkey’s competition authority. The first meeting took place in September 2012 in Kazan (Russia) under the frame of an annual international event – “Competition Day in Russia”. The second meeting was organized in April 2014 in Istanbul. Initially, apart from Russia and Turkey, the Working Group on roaming also comprised competition authorities of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.