Yesterday independent telecoms operator Niezależny Operator Miedzystrefowy signed an agreement with TPSA to bring an dispute to an end which started last summer. NOM became the first competitor to TPSA on long distance calls and those choosing to use its services had to dial the 1044 prefix after the first 0 of the city code. The good news for customers was that this service was completely free of charge, at least it seemed that way as no invoices were issued. NOM expected TPSA to invoice for it, TPSA found a good reason why not to do it. The longer the dispute went on, the more it cost NOM.
Yesterday’s agreement sees NOM receiving almost PLN200m from TPSA. However this is a large price to pay as it means the end of call by call services (those whereby clients can directly dial a number and choose the operator they use). Now users will have to sign a contract with the operator as is the case with Netia and Energis.
Andrzej Piotrowski, director of the e-business department at the Adam Smith Institute believes that this effectively puts an end to competition on the long distance market.
NOM says that it had no choice but to agree because the law gave it no other options. It is now placing its development hopes in a link up with Tel-Energo.
From the beginning of this year it became possible for any operator to start a long distance telecoms business paying only EUR2,500. Several companies have already applied for a licence. Only three licences have so far been granted to Telefonia Dialog, SM Media and Tele2. The latter firm hopes to be able to offer long distance services in the summer. Unlike Energis, Netia and NOM, Tele2 is not just chasing the business market.
Fredrik de Lerigon, MD of Tele2 Polska says that since his company started trading in Poland it has offered its services to small and medium sized companies and private individuals and this policy will not change now.
Tele2 says that it will be investing USD10m on introducing this service. However it first must come to an agreement with TPSA.
Fredrik de Lerigon says that talks are underway concerning billing and payments. He claims that he sees TPSA as a partner and not as an enemy. He also considers it to be a big advantage of having witnessed the fight between TPSA and the other operators and has the benefit of this experience.