Press Releases

Budapest, December 9, 2003 15:00

On January 1 Matáv's regulated tariffs and the tariffs of certain tariff packages will rise slightly - on the average by 1.6%. Business monthly subscription fees, as well as local and long-distance zone 1 call minute tariffs will change. However residential monthly subscription fees, the switching fee and the long-distance zones 2 and 3, mobile and international call tariffs will not change and in certain tariff packages also local and long-distance zone 1 tariffs will remain unchanged.

Matáv's regulated tariffs are specified in Decree No. 3/2002 (I. 21.) MeHVM of the Minister heading the Prime Minister's Office. According to that Decree in 2004 Matáv may increase its regulated tariffs on the average by 2.5 to 3%, but Matáv's long-distance strategic objective is to stop the fall in the number of fixed-line subscribers so the company will not apply the total price increase allowed by the Decree. Since the 1.6% rise is well below the inflation rate expected in 2004 next year telephone rates will fall in real terms.

Residential analog and ISDN monthly subscription fees and the switching fee will not change. Unchanged minute tariffs will be charged for long-distance zones 2 and 3, mobile and international calls. Local and long-distance zone 1 minute tariffs will not change in the Felező, Felező Plusz, Kontroll, Sokatmondó, Ritmus 200, as well as residential and business Turbó ISDN tariff packages. The pulse fee charged by coin-operated and card-operated public payphones will remain HUF 20 including VAT.

The monthly subscription fee of business analog lines will rise by 2.2% to HUF 4,375 including VAT, the monthly subscription fee of business party lines will increase to HUF 1,762.5 including VAT. Business ISDN monthly subscription fees will rise by 4% except the business ISDN2 P-MP service where the monthly subscription fee will remain unchanged.

Local and long-distance zone 1 call tariffs will rise in the Bázis, Csevegő, Minimál, Ritmus 100, Ritmus Standard, Ritmus Local, Ritmus National Long-distance, Ritmus Mobile, Ritmus Peak tariff packages (see Annex). On December 3 Matáv introduced a new supplementary tariff package called XL for customers often making calls in local and long-distance zone 1 directions. Subscribers to the XL can make phone calls each day in off-peak period without minute charge and switching fee in local and long-distance zone 1 directions for HUF 990 monthly surcharge. The XL supplementary tariff package can be used with Bázis, Csevegő and Sokatmondó basic packages.

The estimated total impact of the tariff increases will be a 1.6% price increase (the official final figure will be determined as required by law at the end of 2004 on the basis of the total changes made during the year).