Russian, Finnish cellular operators begin negotiating roaming cost-cuts
HELSINKI. March 16 (Interfax) - Major Russian and Finnish cellular communications operators have begun the process of negotiating the reduction of international roaming tariffs.
Taking part in the talks on the Finnish side are leading companies Elisa, TeliaSonera, and DNA, while Russia is represented by its 'big-3' - Megafon , Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) , and VimpelCom . Also joining in are Finnish Communications Minister Suvi Linden and his Russian counterpart Igor Schegolev.
The urgency of these negotiations is underscored by data on the number of visas being issued to citizens of the two countries, Schegolev said. "Around a million Russians received Finnish visas in 2010," he said. "If one considers that many residents of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region hold multi-entry visas, it becomes clear that the number is very high, and according to the Russian Embassy in Finland, around 300,000 Finns received visas to Russia," he said.
"The goal of our discussions is working out a model that could be used not just with Finland, but also with other countries," Schegolev said.
Representatives from the Russian companies have said that Finland figures strategically in the country's roaming plans, and that there is more need for roaming services every year.
At the end of last month, Russia and the European Union launched expert-level talks on the possibility of Russia being included in the unified EU directive on roaming.