Laats: The ability to change the mobile operator per day will reduce the prices of communication services
The Center Party faction in Riigikoga on Monday submitted a bill to the parliamentary production, according to which, if desired, it will be possible to change the mobile operator within one working day. According to the chairman of the Lauri Laatsa faction, this change will increase competition and lead to a decrease in prices for communication services.
“The pricing and the procedure for transferring numbers in the Estonian mobile communications market do not provide consumers with sufficient transparency and equal opportunities,” said Lauri Laats. – According to the statistics of the Department of Protection of Consumer Rights and Technical Supervision, in 2024 more than 50% of the statements of the operator’s change were withdrawn. This suggests that current operators offer favorable conditions only when the client wants to leave. This means that many loyal customers pay more for services than new subscribers or those who expressed a desire to change the operator. This situation undermines the principles of honest competition. ”
Laats noted that various reviews show that the prices for mobile services in Estonia are much higher than in neighboring countries. “For example, the service of providing unlimited Internet in Estonia costs an average of 30–35% more than in Latvia and Lithuania. A fixed Internet for business clients can be nine times more expensive, and for individuals-3.5 times than in Latvia and Lithuania. The increase in prices for communication services in Estonia last year amounted to 8.5%, exceeding the total increase in the consumer price index (3.5%). These prices do not reflect the real level of competition. Clients receive more profitable offers only when they want to leave, which means that official tariffs are not used the same, ”said Laats.
Laats added that the ability to transfer the number within one business day will allow consumers to easily and quickly change the service provider, which will create real pressure on prices and prerequisites for more honest competition. “It is necessary to consider the possibility of regulating price transparency and intervention in situations where a long -term client is in a less favorable position than a new one,” Laats said.
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