100 THOUSAND DRAM FINE IMPOSED ON ARMENTEL FOR ATTEMPT TO
MISLEAD SUBSCRIBERS
02-05-2007 20:00:00 | Armenia | Economy
YEREVAN, MAY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. At the May 2 sitting, the RA
State Commission on Protection of Economic Competition made a
decision to stop the legal proceedings initiated based on
complainst of K-Telecom and ArmenTel companies against each
other.
It is noted in K-Telecom's complaint that ArmenTel's
establishing the per-minute tariff of 27 drams for its
subscribers using the "Family and Friends" package is an
instance of market price dumping and monopoly position abuse.
According to the complaint of ArmenTel, corporate
subscribers to K-Telecom's "Optima+" package, as well as natural
persons are offered tariffs that are not included in the tariff
packages officially published by this company.
Later the companies withdrew their complaints and requested
to stop the legal proceedings. The commission demanded that the
two companies present their reasons for withdrawing their
complaints.
During an examination, the commission revealed that in
commercials about the "Family and Frineds" package the matter
concerns the per-minute tariff of 27 drams but it is not
mentioned that a subscriber payment of 300 drams is required as
well. Considering this as a manifestation of bad-faith
competition and an attempt to mislead subscribers, the
commission imposed a fine of 100 thousand drams (about 280
dollars) on ArmenTel.
Director General of ArmenTel Oleg Bliznyuk said that the
indicated advertisement is about the tariff of one service and
not the whole package. In his words, the matter is not in the
amount of the sum and it is not ruled out that after
familiarizing itself with the commission's decision, ArmenTel
will dispute it in court.