"Prices for communication services will remain unchanged until the end of the year" - a press release with this headline was published on Saturday, December 7, by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
According to the press service, the current tariff levels will be maintained until the end of 2024 "as a result of discussions with telecommunications operators." "The ministry's initiative is aimed at supporting citizens and businesses, for whom stable communication costs are an important condition for the accessibility of digital services. Operators have expressed their willingness to align with government efforts and keep the existing tariffs in light of economic challenges," the press service of the Ministry stated.
The agency added that the ministry "will continue to closely monitor compliance with obligations and take steps to further develop the country's telecommunications infrastructure."
Just a few days earlier, on December 4, the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition of the Republic of Kazakhstan (APDCK) announced that it had initiated an investigation into cellular operators due to the rise in prices for mobile services in 2023. JSC "Kcell," LLP "Mobile Telecom-Service" (Tele2/Altel), and LLP "Kar-Tel" (Beeline) are suspected of coordinated tariff increases (Article 170 of the Entrepreneurial Code). Additionally, following the discovery that cellular operators had set the same cost for calls - 18 tenge per minute in their tariff plans - notifications were sent to operators demanding that they rectify these violations "by justifiably lowering prices."
The press release stated that cellular operators are contesting the measures taken in court, which has led to the suspension of investigations until judicial decisions are made.