Date:12/12/11

Charges may be introduced for local phone calls

Azerbaijan's tariff council is considering a proposal to introduce local telephone call charges of up to 0.01 gapiks per minute.

Under the proposed tariffs, subscribers will be able to talk for 450 minutes free of charge, while any further minutes will be charged at the 0.01 gapik rate, the head of the Baku Telephone Communication Production Association, Beydulla Huseynov, told press.

The move could well come as a blow to many, as local landline telephone calls have been free since the Soviet era, encouraging a culture of long telephone conversations.

The head of the production association, part of the Communications Ministry, denied that the charges would mean a price rise, as most people do not speak for more than 450 minutes.

“At present, 80% of home phone users don’t talk more than 450 minutes. Phone usage ability and the incomes of the population were considered while developing this system.”

Huseynov said that the system will offer various packages. “Subscribers are free to choose whatever package they want,” he said.

The current monthly fixed charge for a domestic telephone is AZN 2 while the one-off connection fee is AZN 80. One manat (100 gapiks make up one manat) is trading for $1.272.
 

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