10.10.2007

Operators find common ground in reducing wholesale charges - Price reductions expected for calls made to business numbers

Call prices to national business numbers in Finland are exceptionally high if the call is made from a mobile phone. In June, the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) gave its opinion on the pricing model of business numbers and required that wholesale charges operators charge one another, also being major contributors to expensive call prices, be reduced between 2008-2010.

Also, the authority required that the effects of price reduction in wholesale charges are extended to encompass the retail prices of calls made to business numbers.

Telecom operators have, at FICORA's initiative, negotiated on wholesale charges over the summer and early autumn. Operators have now reached an agreement on new charges for 2008: wholesale charges will be reduced considerably as early as this February. On the average, wholesale charges will drop by a third, compared to the current level.

The wholesale price level now reached gives telecom operators providing business numbers an opportunity to reduce their end-customer prices considerably. FICORA believes that market-conditioned competition will lead to fair business number charges as early as this spring as wholesale charges have dropped.

FICORA regards it positive that operators have arrived at a conclusion to the negotiations by means of self-regulation. The conclusion enhances competition in the market for business numbers and increases the usability and attractiveness of services.

See FICORA's press release of 5 June 2007 on this subject

Further information:

FICORA:
Liisa Räsänen, Head of Market Analysis Unit, tel. +358 9 6966 819, +358 040 846 9926
Petri Makkonen, Communications Market Specialist, tel. +358 9 6966 381, +358 50 430 0391
Tuomas Haanperä, Communications Market Specialist, tel. +358 9 6966 433

TDC Song Oy:
Jukka-Pekka Joensuu, General Counsel, tel. +358 30 994 2455, +358 50 994 2455

Elisa Oyj:
Rami Peltosaari, Head of Department, tel. +358 50 574 68 55

TeliaSonera Finland Oyj:
Markku Järvinen, Director, Integrated Enterprise Services, tel. +358 40 544 4113

DNA Oy:
Jyrki Nummela, Director, tel. +358 44 2203 204