PRESS: Russia MGTS files 30 suits against VimpelCom for 40 mln rbl

MOSCOW, Jun 29 (PRIME) -- Moscow City Telephone Company (MGTS), a fixed line unit of mobile operator MTS, has filed 30 lawsuits against mobile operator VimpelCom claiming 40 million rubles in payments, mostly for the use of MGTS’ cable-conduit systems, business daily Vedomosti reported Wednesday.

An MGTS representative said that MGTS raised tariffs for access to its cable systems in May 2015, but VimpelCom continued to pay a lower price accumulating a 178.4 million ruble debt, Some lawsuits have already been won, according to materials disclosed in the information system of the Moscow Arbitration Court.

A VimpelCom representative said that VimpelCom also filed lawsuits against MGTS for abusing its dominant position by charging a high price for placing optic fiber lines in its cable-conduit systems.

Alkhas Mirzabekov, general director of Internet provider Iskratelekom said that MGTS periodically raises tariffs for access to its cable systems, with the latest increase amounting to 9% to 5.3 rubles per laying a meter of cable per month.

The process of setting the tariff is intransparent, as it is unclear why prices grow if infrastructure remains the same, and upgrade is financed by the municipal authorities and developers, he said.

(64.8095 rubles – U.S. $1)

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