The Communications Commission held a conference titled “TV Advertising Market Challenges – Product Placement,” the aim of which was to resolve the issue of unlawful product placement in Georgian TV space. Participants in the event included EU media expert Jean-Francois Furnemont, members of the British and Lithuanian regulatory commissions, as well as representatives from the EU delegation, the U.S. embassy, broadcasters, chambers of commerce and NGOs. The event was also...

British experts David Watson and James King held a seminar at the Communications Commission on the subject of strategic communications. The issues discussed included the use of emotional and rational arguments to affect opinion; effective strategies for neutralising disinformation; ‘opinion wall’; techniques for perceiving and analysing opinions; important aspects of crisis communication; predicting public behaviour during a crisis; and the methods of building an organisation's...

The Communications Commission held a public lecture at the European University on the subject of 5G to raise awareness about the telecom industry and modern technologies among students. The meeting was chaired by the Head of the ComCom Spectrum and Technology Department Sandro Karumidze, who talked about the advantages of 5G technology and the differences to the existing technologies. The lecture also discussed the current global trends in this field, Georgia’s prospects, and the...

ComCom member Ekaterine Imedadze held a meeting with Deputy Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT), Kamila Kloc. The aim of the meeting was to introduce Ms Kloc to the activities implemented by the Commission in order to harmonise the regulatory environment of the Georgian telecom sector with the European Union, as well as present the plans for the future.  During the meeting, the conversation touched on the comprehensive study of the Georgian...

As part of the Digital Support Programme, the Communications Commission held 25 seminars and trained over 300 locals in the municipalities of Zugdidi and Abasha in digital literacy and safe use of the internet. With the help of specialists, participants learned how to search for information, create and use e-mail, use Google Maps and Google Translator, share locations, use online communication tools and detect fake news.  In addition, a meeting was held with local entrepreneurs, for whom...

“The uncompetitive Georgian mobile communications market is damaging for the consumers.” Such is the conclusion drawn by the EU experts from the comprehensive study of the mobile communications market commissioned by ComCom. According to the experts, this situation can be rectified by imposing specific obligations on the operator with significant market power in the shape of Magticom. This includes the obligation to allow all interested companies access to its own network in order...

The comprehensive study of the mobile services market found that the market is uncompetitive to the detriment of the consumers. One of the factors pointing towards this circumstance is the alarmingly high EBITDA margin (earnings before interest and tax, depreciation and amortisation) posted by the Georgian operators in 2022, which significantly exceeds the EU average of 35%. Magticom’s EBITDA margin was 75% in 2022, underscoring the operator’s significant market power. Silknet (61%)...

Based on the comprehensive study of mobile services market commissioned by ComCom, EU experts found that Magticom is an operator with significant market power (SMP), as it enjoys considerable advantage over its competitors in terms of financial resources, user numbers and infrastructure. The experts believe that in order to improve the uncompetitive situation on the market, Magticom must allow all interested companies free access to its infrastructure. To this end, the regulator must impose...

On the basis of the comprehensive study of the mobile communications market commissioned by ComCom, EU experts found that LLC Magticom is an operator with significant market power. Thus, to improve competition on the mobile services market and create diverse choices for the consumers, the company must be subject to specific obligations, particularly to allow other interested companies access to its infrastructure and thereby open up the market.  Analysis of the mobile service retail market...

On the basis of the comprehensive study of the mobile communications market commissioned by ComCom, EU experts found that the Georgian mobile communications market is uncompetitive, and will remain so for at least another three years in the absence of ex-ante regulation, to the detriment of the consumers. The experts identified Magticom as an operator with significant market power, and outlined specific obligations for the company. Today the Commission published the results of the comprehensive...