INTERNET CONNECTION TARIFFS TO DECLINE FOR ARMENIAN USERS FROM MAY 1

Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. A 10-30% fall in the tariffs of
Internet connection service is expected in Armenia from May 1,
Technical Director of Arminco company told NT correspondent. According
to him, the reduction in these tariffs is conditioned by the
fact that on April 15 ArmenTel reduced the lease price of the
high-capacity channels by about 30%. At the same time, the RA Public
Services Regulatory Commission approved ArmenTel’s formula of tariff
calculation in case the provider connects to the Internet through its
own satellite facility. This will allow to further reduce the Internet
connection tariff. According to G. Saghian, the greatest decline in
the tariff can be expected for those services, whose provision does
require the provider to have its own infrastructures. For example,
the companies providing “dial up” services will get an opportunity to
reduce the tariff to up to 30%. G. Saghian said that the reduction
of Internet channels’ lease prices by ArmenTel has become possible
thanks to technical re-equipment of the company. In his words, the
decline in international Internet connection tariffs four months after
an increase in the fixed-line phone tariffs is consistent with the
policy of comunication services rebalancing, which is stipulated in
licence No 60.