FAS demanded that Megafon and MTS stop collecting additional payments from subscribers in Crimea

In August 2024, the department opened cases against MTS, Megafon and Beeline for non-compliance with warnings about the abolition of surcharges for subscribers in Crimea and Sevastopol. Its collection “in the absence of economic, technological and other justification violates the interests of subscribers,” explained the FAS.

The press service of MTS RB.RU reported that they have not yet received the order for the service. “We will decide the steps to follow to interact with the regulator when we review the documents,” the operator’s representatives added.

Megafon RB.RU also stated that they would comment on the FAS decision when they received it. The company noted that they work in Crimea through the infrastructure of local operators and generate direct roaming costs. “The communication costs for our subscribers directly depend on the price of the services of these operators. “We are in constant dialogue with local operators to reduce prices, which ultimately affects the cost of roaming for our subscribers,” Megafon’s press service explained.

Beeline voluntarily abolished the markup and from January 1, 2025, will bring tariffs to the level of the home region, the FAS clarified. The service did not issue an order to the operator, since “the implementation period is technologically determined by the configuration of its billing system.”

Previously, T2, VTB Mobile and local operators K Telecom and KTK-Telecom voluntarily canceled the additional fee for subscribers in Crimea.