When Azerbaijan launched its first telecommunications satellite into orbit in February 2013, many people hoped it will improve the quality of internet services and cut the prices. According to a survey conducted by ANN, however, not all active users of the internet in the country are happy with the quality or prices of services they receive. Some others even complain about deception by internet providers.

Osman Gunduz, head of the non-governmental Internet Forum, said in an interview with ANN: “The Ministry of Communications and High Technologies seems to have been preoccupied by the ‘high technologies’ and paperwork after the renaming of the ministry. This is while, internet users are being deceived. They get a lower quality traffic than they pay for. The prices were expected to be reduced as of April 1. It turned out to be an April Fool’s Day joke. It seems that the ministry could not force state-owned internet providers to cut the prices.”

Internet providers in Azerbaijan make millions of manats every month because of the high prices. They are reluctant to cut the prices, Gunduz said. 

“The ministry which is supposed to resolve the problem has business interests in this. They make millions every month. Who would give up these millions? This is a profitable business. They are deceiving hundreds of thousands of internet users, providing them with less than they are paying for.  The prices are much higher than in neighboring countries.”

Seymur

ANN.Az