Armenpress
ARMENTEL REFUSES TO PAY $400,000 FINE
YEREVAN, AUGUST 26, ARMENPRESS: A government-affiliated commission for
protection of economic competition said it has received today a complaint
from ArmenTel telephone operator protesting its August 12 decision to fine
the company $400,000 for the more than month-long breakdown of its network
that caused widespread anger among its nearly 300,000 subscribers from June
30 to July 10. The company had to pay the fine within ten days.
The commission had ruled that the Greek-owned company, which maintains
its legal monopoly on fixed-line telephony and Internet services in Armenia,
has abused its “dominant position” in the cellphone business. Commission
chairman, Ashot Shahnazarian, said ArmenTel said it would cite additional
information to explain the service’s failure. He said the commission will
convene on August 31 to respond to the complaint, saying also that the
commission is very unlikely to revise its August 12 decision. He said if the
company fails to pay the fine the commission will take the case to court.
Shahnazarian said he was assured by ArmenTel’s managers that the quality
of mobile phone services “will finally improve by September 15.”