Berisha asks for lower SMS tariffs

TIRANA, May 4 – Prime Minister Sali Berisha has called on the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) to regulate the SMS tariffs which according to him still remain high.
“In fact their total cost remains expensive, therefore we should do everything for their regulation, and include in AKEP’s agenda the SMS tariff regulations in the same way as impulses,” said Berisha during a government meeting, describing the SMS communication in Albania as the fastest and most suitable.
A recent report by the Electronic Communications Authority says the number of SMSs fell by 16 percent in 2010 compared to 2009 because of the ongoing high tariffs, criticized even by government.
AKEP also says it is concluding an analysis on the SMS termination tariffs, which it says are currently at 7 times higher than their cost. AKEP says the current termination tariff is 4 lek/SMS at a time when the cost is 0.58 lek/SMS. The Electronic Communications Authority foresees to lower these tariffs to 0.58 lek/SMS for all four operators by September 2013 starting with gradual decreases in four stages for the next two years. In September 2011, the SMS termination tariffs will be at 1.44 lek, according to recommended tariffs.
AKEP says the final decisions on these tariffs will be taken in May 2011 after a two-month consultation process and the announcement of the analysis results in the next few days.