The Angolan Communications Institute (Inacom) is negotiating with pay television operators break-even prices that are affordable for consumers and also guarantee the sustainability of the companies themselves, its president, Leonel Augusto, said on Thursday.
When speaking to Public Television of Angola (TPA), regarding ZAP’s unilateral announcement, according to which it will change the prices of its services from the 26th of this month, the president of Inacom clarified that any and all changes to the tariff Communications prices must comply with the strict provisions of the electronic communications law.
Last Monday, ZAP announced, unilaterally, that it will change the prices of the Mini, Max, Plus and Premium packages, on February 26th, a decision already repudiated by Inacom, as, allegedly, “it is not their competence to set prices for this type of services”.
ZAP clarified, through a press release, that, given the changes registered in the national economy, such as the devaluation of the kwanza, it could change the prices of its services.
According to the company, this situation creates great difficulties in paying its international suppliers.
Thus, the Mini package for 30 days, which cost two thousand and 200 kwanzas, will become three thousand and 100 kwanzas, while the Max, which costs Akz 4,400, will become Akz 6,200. The Premium package, which currently costs Akz 8,800, will increase to 12,400 kwanzas.
In the interview with TPA, the president of Inacom added that price changes must also comply with the price regulations for electronic communications services and the general regulations for electronic communications.
Leonel Augusto mentioned that Inacom, as the regulatory body for telecommunications services, is not oblivious to the macroeconomic context and the pressure it exerts on the companies themselves, which is why they are in dialogue with ZAP, MultiChoice and TV Cabo, to find prices that satisfy the customers and guarantee the continuity of operators’ activities.
“We have states working to find balance for what consumers can absorb. Here we are talking about more than one million and 500 thousand customers who consume subscription television services and we also find the balance taking into account the sustainability of the companies themselves”, he said.
Inacom, he said, has been advocating that price changes and adjustments be gradual, to allow citizens to absorb the impact on their own daily bills.