It is regrettable that sections of the Georgian media and non-governmental sector are trying to implement double standards in Georgia. The Communications Commission has been calling for financial transparency from broadcasters and the latter’s compliance with the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting for the past 7 years. In this process, COMCOM has encountered major resistance from some of the same organisations that are now demanding financial transparency from Facebook. On 29 June, the...

On 30 June 2020, the Communications Commission will hold an online meeting with representatives from the consulting firm Ernst & Young and other interested parties to discuss the questions which parties may have regarding the “Consultation Document for calculating 5G Frequency Resource Costs,” which was published by COMCOM on 24 April 2020. All interested parties will have an opportunity to take part in the meeting. Applications should be sent by 12:00 p.m. on 30 June 2020 to...

Magticom will be unable to abolish the 25 GEL unlimited package “Martivi 25.” The Communications Commission took a decision to this end on the back of conducting research and analysing the retail service market. As a result of the ruling, subscribers will retain the service and will also be able to activate the unlimited package after 7 July. Market research revealed that Magticom’s move to abolish the popular “Martivi 25” package and replace it with “Martivi...

The Communications Commission has issued Caucasus Online with another 270,000 GEL fine for selling shares without the prior approval of the Commission. The company has been ignoring its obligations under law and COMCOM’s decisions for the past 9 months. Caucasus Online has to revert its shareholding to the pre-sale status quo until 1 August, as well as present information about all beneficiary shareholders (including the previous beneficiary shareholders) within two weeks. The Commission...

Starting from today, Magticom, Silknet and Veon Georgia will be unable to increase the rates on mobile communications services without COMCOM’s approval. The Commission took this unprecedented and important decision to protect consumer interests and prevent the limiting of competition on the mobile communications market. The new regulation covers mobile voice and internet services, as well as short SMS messages.   COMCOM’s new regulation will guarantee that the existing...

An unprecedented 185 submissions have been received for the Communications Commission’s third media literacy competition “Truth or Fiction?” The first edition of the competition had 17 participants, while 57 pupils took part in the second edition. The number of participants has now grown eleven-fold. The goal of the competition is to develop critical thinking, analysis and fact-checking skills among youngsters, helping them distinguish real facts from fake news. Applications...

With regards to the consultation document published by the Georgian National Communications Commission on radio broadcast licensing competition regulations, there have recently been false reports about the Commission’s strategy creating additional financial liabilities and difficulties for radio broadcasters. Such claims do not correspond to the truth and serve to mislead the public.  We must emphasise that any changes determined by the strategy do not apply to licenses that have...

The media literacy competition “Truth or Fiction?” has been prolonged by a week. Pupils wishing to submit their works can do so until and including 21 June. The Communications Commission decided to extend the deadline due to the high participation and interest levels. More than 160 submissions have been made by 14 June, which is a record number. Pupils continued to express their interest in taking part in the competition after the initial deadline, which prompted the Commission to...

The Communications Commission has published its activity report for 2019, which includes the projects implemented by COMCOM last year, as well as the challenges and plans for 2020. 2019 was a special year for media and broadcasting, as well as the telecommunications sector. There are currently more than 100 broadcasters, while the number of subscribers on the fixed internet market is dynamically growing. According to the 2019 figures, fixed internet penetration reached 80.8%, compared to only...

The Georgian National Communications Commission has issued a written warning to Mtavari Arkhi for broadcasting a programme in foreign language. The case concerns an interview in Russian language which was included in the show “Main Accents” without the mandatory subtitles. According to GNCC’s resolution and the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, authorised broadcasters may show programmes in foreign language if their length does not exceed 10% of the total daily broadcasting...