ISPs obliged to meet quality parameters

TIRANA, Oct. 17 – Starting from next January, internet service providers will be obliged to offer their customers quality technical and administrative parameters which will be sanctioned under contract. The changes approved by the Electronic and Postal Communication Authority (AKEP) foresee that ISPs will offer customers access to measure their internet speed on their website, and be responsible for quality technical parameters such as the download, upload speed, time needed to install internet and repair faults. “The changes reflect the best international practices and establish a fair and balanced relationship between the terms of contracted service quality and what subscribers really buy from entrepreneurs,” says AKEP.
Around 189,000 Albanian households, or 24 percent of the total, are reported to have broadband internet access, according to data published by the Electronic and Postal Communication Authority (AKEP) for the first half of 2012. AKEP also reports some 14,000 business subscribers having broadband internet access. The number of subscribers having 3G-USB/modem access rose to 38,000 in the first half of 2012.
Some 130 entrepreneurs operate in the internet market until the end of 2011.