Yerevan /Mediamax/. Commission for Protection of Economic Competition (CPEC) obliged “ArmenTel”## Company (Beeline brand) today to take up in the course of 15 days steps to give internet-providers the opportunity to connect to the public telephone network by direct lines.

Mediamax reports that earlier the internet-providers turned to CPEC with the request to declare “ArmenTel” a subject, which occupies dominating position in the market of internet services, based on which on May 7 the Commission initiated an administrative proceeding.

Chairman of the Commission Ashot Shahnazaryan noted that providing “Hi Line” internet connection services by direct telephone lines, “ArmenTel” mechanically becomes a monopolist in the market and limits competition in the sphere of internet services.

“ArmenTel” Director on Operations Alexander Birman noted that the Company is ready to cooperate with providers and that it has already signed with a number of companies the corresponding memorandum, which defines the rules in the market. According to him, to provide access to the public telephone network, “ArmenTel” has to realize additional investments, which should be coordinated with the shareholders of the Company. At the same time, Alexander Birman stated, Beeline is ready to give internet-providers the opportunity to connect to the public telephone network earlier than within 15 days.