Armenian telecommunications company fined for abuse of “dominant” role
on market

Mediamax news agency
12 Aug 05

YEREVAN

The commission to protect economic competition today fined ArmenTel
company for “abuse of the dominant position on the market of mobile
communication services”.

ArmenTel will have to pay one per cent from its profit received in
2004 from the mobile communication services.

The commission’s resolution notes that between 30 June and 10 July of
2005, ArmenTel did not provide to its subscribers the mobile
communication services at the needed level. This contradicts Armenia’s
legislation and licence No 60 regulating the company’s activity.

Representatives of ArmenTel company at the commission’s meeting
acknowledged shortcomings in their work. However, they rejected the
claims on the company’s dominant role. The company’s lawyer, Artag
Khachatryan, said that the mobile operator Vivacell, which had entered
the market on 1 July, became a “powerful and serious rival” for
ArmenTel.