[Effendi]

Regulator may introduce fixed-to-mobile pay calls before July 1

MOSCOW, Mar 14 (Prime-Tass) -- Russia's Federal Tariff Service may introduce paid fixed-to-mobile calls before July 1, when the law on the Calling Party Pays (CPP) principle takes effect, the service's deputy director Vitaly Yevdokimenko told reporters Tuesday.

Yevdokimenko said that the tariff may be introduced after methods to set tariffs on local connections have been worked out.

The service expects all fixed-line operators included in the list of dominant companies to submit their proposals on tariffs for fixed-to-mobile calls.

Meanwhile, the service may start working on developing three tariff plans for fixed-line operators soon, Yevdokimenko said. The work can only start after the IT and Telecommunications Ministry completes its work on instructions to fixed-line operators on calculating their revenues and losses, which is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Yevdokimenko said in late 2005 that fixed-line operators are expected to offer their subscribers three alternative tariff plans from April 1, 2006. Under the first tariff plan subscribers get an unlimited amount of calls for a certain monthly fee, under the second, subscribers pay per minute and under the third tariff plan, a combination of the first two would exist. The first plan would be the only option available in most Russian regions.

The bill seeking to introduce the CPP principle was signed by the president on March 6 and comes into force on July 1. The law forbids telecommunication operators from charging receiving parties for incoming calls in most cases.

Currently, Russian mobile operators charge for most incoming fixed-to-mobile phone calls. They do offer, however, free fixed-to-mobile incoming calls on some contracts with a minimum monthly fee.

The tariff service regulates the tariffs of fixed-line companies that have a dominant position on a regional fixed-line market, where they have over 25% of the fixed-line number capacity and capacities to route over 25% of fixed-line traffic.