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FAS fined MTS 3 billion rubles
The department considered these 3 billion rubles as illegally obtained income. The withdrawal of funds is a serious precedent on the market. Why is this an important signal?
MTS had to pay 3 billion rubles to the budget and reduce tariffs. The Federal Antimonopoly Service decided to consider these 3 billion rubles as income obtained illegally.
According to the FAS, MTS increased the cost of telecommunications services by 8% in April and May for its 30 million subscribers. According to the agency, such an increase is economically unjustified and violates the interests of consumers. The FAS decision is an unexpected signal, says Eldar Murtazin, senior analyst at Mobile Research Group.
The FAS said that this is the first time a large fine of 3 billion rubles has been imposed. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport considers this proportionate, since it is necessary to “effectively prevent unfair practices among such telecommunications service providers.” Vilianov.com editor-in-chief Sergey Vilyanov says that all this talk seems absurd.
MTS representatives reported that the tariff increase was economically justified and was related to the operator's increased costs for equipment maintenance and infrastructure development. The proceeds were also used to expand and modernize the operator's network.