This week, Telekom received a fine from ANCOM, the authorities reacting most likely based on complaints made by the mobile operator's dissatisfied customers. We are talking about a fine of only 200.000 LEI applied to the mobile phone operator, the value itself being insignificant for a company that generates 1 billion euros annually.
Telekom was fined by ANCOM because of the porting process for some customers, who complained either of the porting not being carried out or of the unjustified extension of the porting period. According to those from ANCOM, 1232 ports from Telekom to other mobile networks were not completed, and for another 4941 porters the operator unjustifiably extended the period, so it was complained about.
Telekom was obliged to act accordingly and send the request to the operator to which the respective customer wishes to reach, upon receiving the request to port a mobile phone number. Telekom prevented or unjustifiably delayed this procedure, the company being complained not only by customers, but also by some competing mobile phone operators, and ANCOM acted in the end, although many were angry as a result.
Telekom had all these problems between May 1 and July 21, 2017, the operator not responding to the standard porting message in the case of 7213 porting requests made by customers in Romania. Because of these problems, 1232 numbers were not ported from the Telekom network, while for another 4941 unique numbers porting was unjustifiably delayed for a long time, something for which Telekom will now pay.
"The National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) sanctioned Telekom Romania Mobile Communications with a fine of 200.000 lei for not porting 1.232 phone numbers and delaying the porting process for another 4.941 phone numbers."
Telekom will now have to pay this fine of 200.000 LEI to the state budget, but it is insignificant for such a large company, which is anyway in a delicate situation. The almost 50.000 euros represent less than the receipts for a single day of those from Telekom, so their absence will not be felt that much, but that is the legislation in Romania.
Telekom has lost more than 1 million customers in recent years due to the bad services they offer for their portfolio customers, and the porting problems are most likely bigger than they seem. Telekom is trying to stop the "hemorrhaging" of customers, but so far it has only managed to obtain a fine, and the number of those using its services is in constant decline, so the solution must come from somewhere else.
