MOBNA – Resistance by Iranian mobile phone operators to lower Payamac (SMS) tariff has caused foreign companies active in the field to come forward with offers of lower tariff.
Foreign companies which have recently setup authorized or unauthorized offices in Iran offer 135 Rial for a Payamac, when its official value is at least 142 Rial.
A marketing agent to one of such companies told MOBNA the high tariff of Payamac and some limitations on declaring real address when sending Payamac, has created a good opportunity for those foreign companies familiar with laws and regulations in Iran.
The agent, who did not wish to be named, stressed that already some commercial and even publishing firms, by acquiring necessary software, have become subscribers to such companies which offer much lower tariffs.
Iran Inspectorate Organization has for the past six months urged the authorities to lower the tariff, but he authorities argue such action will lower the amount of revenue projected in the government budget.
However, the 1st Operator, which is state-owned and owns 75% of the country’s mobile phone market, is planning to lower its tariff by 20% on its prepaid SIM cards believing that the increase in the volume of SMS, as a result of a lower tariff, would compensate for the amount of revenue projected in the budget.
Iranian operators earn 7b Rial daily from SMS messages transmitted by 30m subscribers.