EU cell operators hiked prices for Russia’s MegaFon by 482%

MOSCOW, Feb 2 (PRIME) -- E.U. mobile operators have notified MegaFon, one of Russia’s leading mobile operators, of a 482% increase in tariffs for interoperator settlements, Yulia Dorokhina, head of the operator’s press service, said on Thursday.

MegaFon, which has been caught by the local antitrust on hiking tariffs for international roaming, said European operators have started getting ready beforehand for the abolition of roaming inside the union, in force from June 17, and revised terms for non-E.U. partners.

“For the second half of 2016 MegaFon received a notification of an increase in call termination prices, or interconnect, from the bulk of European operators. The service cost in these countries for MegaFon have spiked by 482% on average,” Dorokhina said.

European countries account for some 80% of voice traffic of Russian subscribers in roaming, she said.

“It’s quite possible that other changes would be also introduced along with the start of a roaming-less mode in the E.U., and companies could analyze their operating efficiency in the new environment,” Dorokhina said.

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