George Arveladze -the Minister of Economic Development has dedicated a special news-conference today to the existing dissension between "Caucasus Online" and "United Telecom". As is well known, "United Telecom" has fixed upon the internet subscribers of "Caucasus Online" a 15 GEL tariff since no agreement has been reached on the payment of the very tax for utilization of broadband resources. "United Telecom" has decided to collect the abovementioned tax from its subscribers.
"United Telecom" has illegally fixed the 15GEL tax upon the internet subscribers of "Caucasus Online" - George Arveladze announced at today's news-conference, adding because of dissension of two private companies Georgian government will not allow the subscribers to pay extra taxes.
"Envisaging the situation, that much more investments enter Georgia and number of internet subscribers increases daily, we will not allow chaos in internet sphere. We categorically announce that a common internet subscriber shouldn't pay any company's illegal tax. Healthy competition and high quality should run this sphere. Dissension between companies is unacceptable to us and we will not allow the subscribers to be inflicted damage on because one company holds a monopoly" George Arveladze says.
"Communications National Commission" will fix new tariffs for utilization of resources of "United telecom" on the meeting which will be held next Friday. New tariffs are supposed to be higher; however the companies will have to pay and not the subscribers. As for the already paid amount, it will be either reimbursed to the subscribers or be included in the payment of service fee of the next period
