Expert: Minimum bundle tariffs get 8% more expensive in Jan–Jun

MOSCOW, Jul 8 (PRIME) -- The minimum bundle tariff of mobile connection services in Russia became by 8% more expensive in January–June, rising to 291 rubles from 270 rubles in December 2019, information and analytical agency Content Review said in a research on Wednesday.

“The biggest input into the growth of tariffs was done by operator Tele2, whose lowest tariffs added 13% on average across Russia in the first half of 2020,” the research read.

The index of affordability of connection services remained flat at 6.5. The nominal rise in salary by 5.6% balanced the rise in connection tariffs.

“The operators repeatedly revised tariffs up during the first half of the year, but if MTS, Beeline, and MegaFon did it only with a part of tariffs prior to introduction of the lockdown, Tele2 drastically hiked tariffs, both current and archive ones, at the turn of April–May, which drew attention of the regulators,” Content Review head Sergei Polovnikov said.

“Direct and indirect losses of the operators from the pandemic and the lockdown are at 30 billion rubles and certainly the operators will have to get the money back either through higher tariffs or subscription of clients to more services.”

Content Review expects prices of the lowest bundle tariffs to rise by 14% on average in July–December. The outlook does not take into account a possible second wave of COVID-19.

(72.1719 rubles – U.S. $1)

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