Do Not Call Artsakh Without Extreme Necessity and Do Not Overload the Artsakh Telecom Network: Statement

The three mobile operators of Armenia have issued a statement. Below is the statement:

“Dear compatriots,

We and our partner operators are receiving countless calls, letters, and demands regarding roaming in Artsakh. It should be noted that the unprecedented volume of calls made by subscribers of Armenian operators is supported by the tremendous efforts of Artsakh Telecom; however, under conditions of overload, this opportunity is also at risk.

The capabilities and number of subscribers of Armenian operators and the operator in Artsakh are incomparable. The servicing of calls by Artsakh Telecom has also become complicated due to the targeting of the only operator's network infrastructure in Artsakh, which, according to our data, has caused damage that requires time, as well as significant human and financial resources for recovery.

In general, roaming is an industry standard that has been technically implemented based on international and domestic legal regulations in the telecommunications sector. Armenian operators operate within the framework of the licenses provided by the state, exclusively within the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Armenia.

It should be noted that the zeroing of roaming rates is not something that should be implemented by the decision of Armenian operators. Let us clarify the roaming pricing model: a connection inter-operator tariff has been established by the decision of the regulatory body, after which a Memorandum was signed among the regulatory bodies and operators of the RA and the AR, based on which a maximum tariff for subscribers was determined, which is the same for all three Armenian operators. The zeroing of tariffs will lead to greater congestion on the Artsakh Telecom network, which will inevitably result in disruptions due to limited capacity.

Let us not ignore the fact that it is thanks to the work of Artsakh Telecom that subscribers of Armenian operators have the opportunity to remain in contact with our compatriots in Artsakh. Today, the most important issue is ensuring the financial and technical capabilities of the receiving network, Artsakh Telecom, to service the large volume of calls and recover from losses.

The motivations of those raising this issue are honest and understandable. However, we must recognize that the existence and maintenance of the Artsakh Telecom network must not, under any circumstances, be jeopardized.

We urge, as the three Armenian operators, not to call Artsakh without extreme necessity and to avoid overloading the Artsakh Telecom network with continuous calls and messages. The network of the operator in Artsakh is a strategically and vitally necessary infrastructure now more than ever, which requires our careful handling and efforts for its maintenance and uninterrupted operation.

Thank you for your understanding.”