From 1 October 2005 the Federal Tariff Service of the RF has introduced new charges for local and long-distance calls for all branches of the JSC North -West Telecom in the regions of Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov, the Leningrad Region, the Republics of Karelia and Komi and the city of St.-Petersburg (Orders ??? No. 429-?/2 and No. 430-?/3 of 20 September 2005). 

Last time the rates were changed on 1 October 2004.  

The application of the JSC North-West Telecom and the decision of the RF FTS is based on the regulations of the Resolution of the RF Government No. 715 of 11 October 2001, which states that the tariffs can be changed on the following grounds:

 - adjustment of the tariffs to the economically sound expenses including the compensation of inflation costs;

 - the necessity to cover the investments costs for modernization and development of the station equipment and the development of line and cable equipment;

 - the reduction of cross-subsidization between the local tariffs for business customers and residents.

An average monthly fee for line rental was increased by 17.6% for residents and 14.5% for business customers. 

Together with the indexation of local rates the OJSC North-West Telecom reduced the long-distance call charges (interband and trunk lines) for residents and companies on average by 5.8%.

The profits from the increased tariffs will be invested into network development and modernization, thus allowing the company to solve the problem of the insufficiency of phone services provision in the region, to eliminate to a certain extent the waiting time for installation and also to improve the range and quality of the services provided. 

In total the weighted average of tariff changes in the OJSC NWT for local and long-distance call will constitute1.085, which corresponds to the inflation rate for 2006.

Local phone calls (monthly fee) for residents*, in roubles per month, including VAT:

Naryan-Mar  as a part of Artelecom of the Arkhangelsk region - 215

Artelecom of the Arkhangelsk region - 215

Murmanelectrosvyaz - 215

Electrosvyaz of the Republic of Karelia - 185

Novgorodtelecom -185

Electrosvyaz of the Pskov Region - 185

Electrosvyaz of the Kaliningrad Region - 185

Electrosvyaz of the Vologda Region - 185

St.-Petersburg Phone Network - 200

Svyaz of the Republic of Komi – 220 (Urban Phone network) and 210 (Rural Phone Network)

Lensvyaz -195

*The table shows the rates for local phone calls for price-plans with monthly payment for local phone calls (monthly subscription payment for line rental) made through wire line using the main private communication device. Separate tariffs are in force for call-based payment plans, shared service and parallel subscribers and communal communication devices.

Local phone calls (monthly fee) for business customers*, in roubles per month, without VAT:

Naryan-Mar  as a part of Artelecom of the Arkhangelsk region -450

Artelecom of the Arkhangelsk region -265

Murmanelectrosvyaz -265

Electrosvyaz of the Republic of Karelia -265

Novgorodtelecom -230

Electrosvyaz of the Pskov Region -230

Electrosvyaz of the Kaliningrad Region -230

Electrosvyaz of the Vologda Region -230

St.-Petersburg Phone Network -285

Svyaz of the Republic of Komi -285

Lensvyaz -265

*The table shows the rates for local phone calls for price-plans with monthly payment for local phone calls (monthly subscription payment for line rental) made through wire line using the main private communication device. Separate tariffs are in force for call-based payment plans, shared service and parallel subscribers, communal communication devices and mini telephone exchanges with access to the communal network.