Telikom rates probed

THE Ombudsman Commission is investigating a complaint against Kumul Telikom Holdings Limited regarding the determination of its 4G GSM mobile voice and internet rates.
Ombudsman Richard Pagen wrote to board chairman Mahesh Patel on Nov 13 to within 28 days “furnish a report setting out the events and administrative procedures that gave rise to the complaint”.
“You are also required to attach all relevant documents in your possession or control,” Pagen said in the letter.
Patel told The National last night that he had responded to the letter from the Ombudsman Commission as required.
He declined to comment further saying the matter was between the company and the Ombudsman Commission.
Pagen, in his letter, said the allegation was that the board of management which met on April 19 had “acted illegally, unethically and unfairly” in its approval of a submission recommending the approval for a price fixture for Telikom’s 4G GSM mobile voices and internet rates consequently rendering the prices of its data rates to being “unaffordable and non-competitive” for its low-end consumers.
Pagen said it was also alleged that the regulatory state agencies for telecommunication and consumer pricing had “failed to provide prudent and timely actions and advice” in response to the actions of the board, in the interests of providing affordable and competitive data pricing in the country.
The two agencies are the National Information and Communication Technology Authority and the Independent Cost Consumer Commission.
Pagen said the commission would issue its final report on the complaint after it had studied all the information submitted.