Increase mobile, landline and internet prices by up to 20%

Thousands of subscribers to telecommunications companies have recently faced increases in mobile and fixed telephone tariffs. A few months after the government “stopped” amending contract prices requested by companies, telecom companies are now proceeding with a direct increase in mobile and fixed contract tariffs.

For almost all expiring contracts, telecom companies propose new increased tariffs to their customers.

The providers' argument is that after 12, 18 or 24 months (which is most common) the offer the company made to you has expired and they now suggest you continue with the same plan but with an increase, for example. 4 to 7 euros in the package previously offered at 24 to 27 euros per month. However, these are increases of up to 20% over the previous fees!

It should be noted that according to a recent study by Eurostat, telecommunications in Greece are at least 50% more expensive than the EU average.

Discounts

The new increases by telecommunications service providers mainly concern subscribers who previously obtained a telecommunications contract with a discount from the nominal list. However, since almost all consumers with a mobile or landline contract got their communications through the offers, the new increases apply to all of them!

In particular, telecom providers are demanding increases since consumers are now out of the contract (due to expiration).

In fact, some companies contact subscribers 3 or even 5 months before the end of their contract, indicating that there is a special offer for them with increased fees, for example. Up to 20%. They recommend picking it up right away, as this offer won't be available for long!

The subscriber, regardless of whether he received discounted services from the list price or not, is not obligated to accept the proposed increase. He can request free of charge, in the event of the expiration of his contract, to be transferred to another provider's network (portability).

Naturally, companies are betting on the reality of consumer “negativity.” If the latter moves to request a change of provider, it is very likely that he will return to the original offer, i.e. the offer that was valid for the last 12, 18 or 24 months.

High costs

However, this is not the first time providers have sought to increase their fees. Asking them to index their definitions last summer was the first attempt.

However, their request was not accepted, as the government asked the companies to reduce the fees.

Besides, Greece is internationally characterized by high telecommunications costs, in contrast to the quality of services provided, which was and still is low.

If the “green light” is given to adjust prices, it will be as if the “pressure” exerted by the government to reduce fees for services provided and modernize the country’s telecommunications networks will stop.

Admittedly, the latter, based on measurements by international organizations (EU, OECD, Ookla, etc.) places us 27th in Europe and around 100th worldwide. The case of Internet connection speeds is typical, as the actual speeds in our country vary significantly (they are lower) compared to the nominal speeds.

Complaints

In the event of the following deviations, the subscriber has the right to terminate his contract free of charge, as long as the problem is not corrected within 30 days:

– In fixed networks: deviations greater than 30% for ADSL networks and 20% for other technologies (such as VDSL, Fiber To The Home – FTTH) from the minimum speed value.

– On mobile networks:

Deviations greater than 10% from the maximum speed value, according to the conditions stipulated in the National Open Internet Regulation – EKAD (measurement when the user is outside and if he is not moving in a vehicle).

It is noteworthy that the government, in order to improve the level of telecommunications services and networks provided, in 2020 offered a full set of frequencies for fifth generation networks at a price of 370 million euros.

In Portugal, almost the same frequencies were allocated in the amount of 570 million euros!

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