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Ministry of Communication Asks Tariff Council to Reconsider Rate of Internet Tariffs

ICT Materials 27 September 2008 12:41 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 27 September/ Trend , corr S. Babayeva/ Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan has submitted proposals to the Tariff Council to reconsider prices of internet resources, Ministry said.

їWe offered to reconsider tariffs to develop internet all over the country,ї Ministry said.

Reducing prices for access to internet has been discussed many times by the Coordinating Council for Development of Internet under Ministry of Communication.

The functions of the Council include working out measures to develop internet in Azerbaijan, using domains, scientific and methodical help to companies operating in this sphere.

Recommendations were sent to automatic telephone exchange and later to Tariff Council to introduce privileges for internet providers, Ministry said.

їWe do our best to develop internet in our country. But, 100% drop in prices is not real as economic situation in the country hinders it and also it is not possible from technical point of view,ї a source in the Ministry said.

The prices for internet have been reduced by 35% to 40% since the beginning of 2008.

Osman Gunduz, director of Multimedia, Center for Information Systems and Technologies and President of Internet Forum of Azerbaijan said not all efforts are made in the country to liberalize the market and reduce prices.

їWe have introduced a set of proposals to the Ministry to reduce Internet prices. There is no response yet,ї he said.

The proposals include allocation of subsidies and decrease in the expenses for resources for internet providers.

їWhy 2Mb/s of internet costs $1,500 a month while it costs $20-$30 in neighboring countries,ї Gunduz said.

The correspondent can be contacted at - с[email protected]

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