/IRBIS, June 1, 2010/ - Antitrust agencies of Kazakhstan and Russia will hold a joint investigation of the cellular operators in the market for roaming services, reported today by the press office of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Protection of Competition (Antitrust Agency).

"Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Protection of Competition (Antitrust Agency) for a preliminary review of information on violation of antimonopoly legislation by domestic mobile operators and their partners - operators of the Russian Federation, established indications of violations of antimonopoly legislation in terms of establishing and maintaining high tariffs for the provision of services international roaming, as well as to establish a step charging of the service of one minute,"- stated in the message.

Earlier Antitrust agency with an authorized body in the field of communications, as well as representatives of mobile operators was convened in which the operators were invited to take measures to reduce tariffs and introduces per-second billing rate for the provision of international roaming services, since April 1, 2010.

"However, the Kazakhstan mobile operator does not support the proposal of the Agency. In order to prove impossible to reduce the step charging and tariffs, the operators pointed to the lack of the necessary agreements with roaming partners in other countries" - stated the report.

It is reported that similar reasons were given and Russian operators "big three" in response to the request with the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation (FAS Russia).

In this regard, June 1, 2010 the Antimonopoly Agency, together with the FAS Russia against LLP GSM Kazakhstan, JSC Kazakhtelecom, LLP Kar-Tel, LLP Mobile Telecom-Service (Kazakhstan), JSC MTS, JSC VimpelCom, MegaFon (Russia) appointed investigation of violations of antitrust laws on grounds of establishing links between these operators' anti-competitive agreements and concerted action by the commission.

In addition, reports that currently exists with respect LLP "GSM Kazakhstan JSC Kazakhtelecom, LLP Kar-Tel, Inc. Mobile Telecom-Service conducted an investigation of violations of antitrust laws on grounds of misuse of data communication operators of a dominant position on the ground of establishing thresholds for use international roaming services.

"According to investigations, if confirmed in the actions of the operators had been a violation of the antimonopoly legislation in respect of the latter measures would be taken to respond," - stated in the message.

[2010-06-01]