Communications Commission member Vakhtang Abashidze opened the second International Consumer Rights Week together with the heads of fellow regulators. He summarised the ComCom projects aimed at providing the consumers with high-quality telecom services, and highlighted the importance of cooperation among the regulators: “Within the framework of our cooperation with fellow regulators, we have achieved visible results in protecting both consumer and business rights. We hope that this cooperation will also be fruitful in the future, to ensure that consumers have effective mechanisms for protecting their rights,” Mr. Abashidze stated.

During his speech, Vakhtang Abashidze highlighted one of the latest important projects implemented by the Communications Commission in the shape of the comparative price analysis: “Last year, we undertook a benchmarking study, which established that high-volume and high-speed services in Georgia are considerably more expensive than the European average. The analysis concluded that while these prices remain high, Georgian consumers will be forced to choose low-volume and low-speed services, or else pay premium rates.” Mr. Abashidze noted that in order to respond to the findings of the analysis, the Commission will make appropriate decisions upon the conclusion of the comprehensive study.

In his speech, Vakhtang Abashidze discussed the comprehensive study in more detail and noted that the research serves to remove barriers on the telecom market, enhance competition and create more favourable conditions for Georgian consumers: “The comprehensive study will conclude in the second quarter. It will establish the need for ex-ante regulation of wholesale markets such as the Bitstream segment of the broadband services market, infrastructure access and internet transit markets, as well as the market for wholesale access to mobile services. The study will also identify operators with significant market power and, if necessary, determine specific obligations for those companies,” Mr. Abashidze stated.

Furthermore, Vakhtang Abashidze highlighted the project to connect Georgia to the EU roaming space, which is being implemented by the Communications Commission and the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development together with EU experts: “Joining the single roaming space will significantly reduce mobile service costs for Georgian consumers, who will be able to use mobile services without additional roaming fees or at significantly reduced rates while in the EU countries.”

With regards to improving telecom services for consumers, the commissioner also highlighted the auction for implementing 5G technology: “Cellfie Mobile was the only company to participate in the auction held by ComCom in 2023, and 5G technology is already available in Gudauri and Bakuriani.” Mr. Abashidze also talked about the introduction of Starlink in Georgia: “Having been authorised by ComCom in 2022, Starlink launched its high-speed internet service in Georgia last year and already has more than 200 subscribers.” Mr. Abashidze emphasised that Georgia is the first country in the region to use Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet.

Another project highlighted by Vakhtang Abashidze is Sheamotsme.ge, launched by the Commission to protect consumer interests and provide them with high-quality internet services: “The platform allows users to check their internet quality and speed. If the service provided to the customer does not correspond to the terms stipulated in the contract, they can appeal to the Communications Commission to resolve the problem. More than 50,000 tests were conducted and around 1,000 complaints registered within the framework of the project. With the help of the Commission, almost all the issues were resolved.”

The commissioner also provided an overview of the mobile service trends in Georgia, noting that there are currently up to 6 million mobile service subscribers, including 4 million mobile internet users, while fixed broadband internet is available to 93% of the households in Georgia. “The remaining population will have access to the internet upon the conclusion of the State Internetization Programme, which is being implemented by Open Net with the help of the Communications Commission and the financial support of World Bank and European Investment Bank,” Mr. Abashidze stated.

Vakhtang Abashidze concluded the overview of ComCom activities in the field of consumer rights protection with a summary of achievements in media literacy: “Between 2019 and 2023, the Communications Commission trained 15,000 pupils, 3,000 teachers and 1,600 university students to develop their media literacy skills. More than 600 educational seminars and meetings were held in total, while the Digital Support Programme has more than 3,500 beneficiaries,” Mr. Abashidze stated, wishing the participants of the conference a productive working day.

The second international conference on competition and consumer rights in Georgia was jointly organised by the Communications Commission, Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency, National Bank of Georgia, the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission, and the State Insurance Supervision Service. The goal of the event was to share information and experience in the field of competition and consumer rights, and to deepen the cooperation in this field. Participants included members of the Parliament, as well as representatives of the central and regional government, business sector, international organisations, academia and non-governmental sector.