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Minister: Mobile internet prices high because cost prices are not low

13 April 2009 09:13 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Aynur Veliyeva â€“ APA-Economics. Mobile internet prices are high in Azerbaijan but this is regulated by the market, said Ali Abbasov, Minister of Communications and Information Technologies.
He added that a fall in prices is more related to a drop in cost prices and an increase in demand for this service.
Azeri mobile operators charge more for internet than Internet service providers do, said the ministry earlier.
The ministry said mobile internet connection at the speed of 10 kbps costs 1 kopeck while the monthly cost of ADSL-Internet service at the speed of 1.5 Mbps on the 7 GB prepaid traffic is 30 manats, and the price for each additional 1 Mbps is just 1 kopecks.
For comparison, the use of mobile internet at the speed of 1 Mbitps costs 9-21 kopecks in Russia in the manat equivalent.
Under Azeri legislation, the Ministry can not force private companies to reduce prices, but can only make recommendations.
Internet service providers cut broadband internet prices by threefold during in February-March on the ministryâ€™s recommendations.