Affordable rates, broad choice, high-quality service and competitive environment – these are the benefits that consumers in Georgia will be able to enjoy from 2021 as a result of the Communications Commission’s decision to allow virtual operators on the mobile telecommunications market. This is a novel opportunity for the public to gain access to innovative products, comfortable services and new offers. A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a mobile service provider that does...

The Communications Commission is holding a two-day training programme for local NGO representatives in regions with a high concentration of ethnic minorities, titled ‘The Effect of Misinformation on Civic Integration and the Importance of its Prevention.’ Media literacy as a tool to fight misinformation, its essence and principles, its role in countering stereotypes and fighting misinformation in the age of modern technology – these are some of the topics covered by COMCOM...

Despite the increase in television advertising revenues during the first quarter of 2020, it was clear that the COVID-19 pandemic would affect the advertising market. Total advertising revenues for television companies during the second quarter of 2020 amounted to 12.2 million GEL. Television advertising revenues include commercials, sponsorships, product placements, announcements and teleshopping. Television advertising revenues during the second quarter of 2020 for each broadcaster were as...

The Communications Commission notes that the public objections made by the Media Advocacy Coalition (MAC) regarding the changes to the “Ordinance on Media Participation in the Election Process and the Approval of its Use” are dishonest and baseless, serving to ensure that reports by international organisations contain false information. Indeed, a representative from the MAC could not substantiate his own remarks at yesterday’s meeting of the Commission. COMCOM presented draft...

Caucasus Online has once again been fined  270,000 GEL for selling shares without the approval of the Communications Commission. The company has been ignoring its obligations under law and COMCOM’s decisions for the past 10 months. Caucasus Online has to revert its shareholding to the pre-sale status quo until 20 September. Failure to do so will result in COMCOM considering other lawful mechanisms to enforce its ruling.   This is the third time that Caucasus Online has been...

The Communications Commission will start the media monitoring process for the 2020 parliamentary elections on 1 September, publishing quantitative and qualitative results for around 50 broadcasting channels. COMCOM monitors received four-day training from the media expert of the Council of Europe, CEO of Memo 98 Rasto Kuzel, who shared best international practice and explained the peculiarities and specifics of qualitative pre-election media monitoring to the participants. COMCOM employees...

The Communications Commission staged the awards event for the third media literacy competition “Truth or Fiction?” A record number of 9th, 10th and 11th grade pupils took part in this year’s competition, which aims to develop critical thinking, analysis and fact-checking skills. Out of 185 excellent works, the competent panel selected 3 winners, who received ultramodern awards from COMCOM. One of the participants also received a special award. In the light of the current...

On 24 April 2020, the Communications Commission published the “Consultation Document for calculating 5G Frequency Resource Costs.” The Commission received questions from Magticom and Silknet regarding this document. As part of the consultation process, an online meeting took place between interested parties and representatives from the consulting firm Ernst & Young to address questions regarding cost calculations. The consultation period ended on 15 July 2020. Based on the...

The Communications Commission has started implementing media literacy projects in Adjara, with the Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU) being the first location. Pupils from Adjarian state schools will join the university students in the media literacy projects starting from the new academic year. COMCOM has already concluded an agreement with the university, which will see academic personnel and students taking part in joint projects aimed at developing media literacy. Furthermore,...

Communications Commission states its concerns related to the information spread by an organization “Reporters Without Borders” about Georgian media and recent amendments in Georgian Law on Electronic Communications. An article, published on July 20, with a title – “Mounting Pressure on Georgia’s media in the run-up to elections” contains erroneous facts and bases its misleading findings on them. According to the article, “With less than four months to...