Mobile Operators Dispute Price-Fixing Allegations

Mobile operators in Kazakhstan disagree with claims that they have artificially inflated communication service prices, Orda.kz reports.

The Antimonopoly Agency, after reviewing the market, concluded that telecom providers have raised prices in recent years. Signs of potential violations were identified in Beeline, Kcell, and Tele2 last year.

We have established signs of coordinated pricing behavior between three companies, and an investigation has been launched into them. It has been suspended to date. All of our orders are currently being appealed to the Supreme Court, which is the last resort. After the Supreme Court has considered the cases, we will continue and complete these investigations. We are conducting an analysis of Beeline, and are currently conducting a similar investigation,
said Bolat Sambetov, Deputy Chair of the Agency for Protection and Development of Competition, at a briefing.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov