​On Friday, September 16, a number of Vodafone subscribers received notices that the price of a monthly subscription to mobile services will increase by €1 (including VAT) starting from the October billing date. In addition, the second largest mobile operator declares that it will introduce a clause on the annual indexation of service prices in relation to the level of inflation in the contracts.

Several readers of HotNews.ro informed us that on Friday they received a message from Vodafone about a unilateral decision to increase the prices of subscriptions to mobile services.

• HotNews.ro has asked for Vodafone’s point of view on the price increase and the number of customers affected, and we’ll be back with answers as soon as we get them.

What price increases will Vodafone make from October

Below is a message received on Friday by several Vodafone subscribers:

“In connection with the increase in costs associated with the provision of mobile communication services (for example, an increase in the cost of electricity and fuel supply), we inform you of the following changes to the contract for the provision of services:

• 1. The monthly price of your subscription to mobile services will increase by 1 euro (including VAT) without changing the minimum term of the contract.
• 2. Price for a printed invoice will be EUR 1 (incl. VAT) for each invoice issued in printed format. This rate will not apply if you have selected electronic invoice. We want to protect the planet and reduce the impact of our activities on the environment, including by reducing paper consumption. We recommend that you use the digital means of sending bills by logging into the ‘Your bill’ section of your ‘My Vodafone’ account. In this way, you will save money and contribute to a cleaner environment.
• 3. In case of suspension of services for non-payment, a reconnection fee of EUR 3 (incl. VAT) is charged after payment of the arrears. It will be found in the account after reconnecting. You can check the status of your accounts at any time in the “Your Account” section of your “My Vodafone” account or by calling *222 and asking “I want account details” in Andreea’s interactive guide.
• 4. Because inflation is a significant factor in the price formation mechanism for all goods and services, the contract is supplemented with a clause on the annual indexation of service prices in accordance with the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (IACP), in accordance with the inflation rate established for Romania by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, but not able to exceed a percentage of 3 % per year from the cost of services.

Thus, Article 3.1 of your contract is supplemented with the following clause: Given certain fluctuations in the prices of goods and services in the market, which may affect the contractual balance, in order to restore it, the parties agree that tariffs for Vodafone services can be indexed annually by means of a simple notification, sent by Vodafone together with the invoice, before indexation is applied. The indexation will be carried out according to the harmonized index of consumer prices (IAPC), according to the inflation rate established for Romania by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, but not exceeding the percentage of 3% per year.

The parties agree that the annual indexation of tariffs to the level of inflation is not a unilateral change in the price of the contract, the possibility of indexation and its mechanism are agreed upon by the parties from the moment of concluding the contract. The customer expressly declares that he has read, understood and accepts this clause.

• 5. National standard tariffs for voice, SMS and data changes as follows: 0.2 EUR/minute and 0.05 EUR/SMS to any national network; 5 euros/ 5 GB of internet on a national mobile (regardless of the traffic consumed from the total amount of 5 GB); rates include VAT.
• 6. Tariffs for roaming in countries outside the European Economic Area (non-EEA), it varies according to the information in the table below. Mobile Internet traffic and voice calls received and made are billed on a package basis. The tariff is applied from the first start of a data session or a voice call until the package is exhausted. After the package is used up, a new one is automatically activated.

The above-mentioned changes take effect from the date of the October invoice.

If you do not agree with the change, you can terminate the contract unilaterally at Vodafone stores or by calling *222 within 30 days of receiving this information without penalty or compensation. If you purchased the phone in installments, the remaining payments are due on the last invoice or can be paid monthly.”

Orange, Vodafone and Telekom criticized the government’s energy regulation: it seriously affects investment plans, including 5G

​Changes in the field of energy introduced by the government by Emergency Decree No. 119/2022 has a serious destabilizing effect on telecommunications services and seriously affects investment plans in the industry, the Association of Mobile Operators of Romania (AOMR), which represents the interests of Orange, Vodafone and Telekom Mobile, warned on Friday, September 2.

The telecommunications companies say that with this GEO, the executive authority cancels the development, investment and cost estimates made by electronic communications operators for a specific infrastructure.

Operators remind that the operation of networks that are considered strategically important, especially in the current geopolitical context, involves constant and significant consumption of electricity.

• “Taking into account the context of the announced auction using the 5G spectrum, which involves significant investments by telecommunication operators, as well as the fact that telephone and Internet services are important and present in all aspects of economic, social and educational activities in Romania, the adoption of this Emergency Decree risks serious disruptions with a negative impact on the entire economy and society as a whole and jeopardizes Romania’s digitization efforts,” say the three most active operators through the voice of AOMR.

The association reminds that Romania has the lowest telephone and Internet prices in Europe, the average income per user is 6.3 euros compared to, for example, 11.38 euros in Hungary, 14.92 euros in Spain, 20.17 euros in France , and the quality of services is high. in Romania, the quality of services exceeds that in other European countries.

The Association of Mobile Operators also warned that Romania currently ranks last in the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) published by the European Commission in 2022 (and also in 2021), and the measures taken make it even more difficult to close the existing digital divide compared to other European countries states

GEO’s impact on energy: the telecommunications industry will have additional costs of 400 million euros

The criticism came in the context of the fact that, due to the new emergency order adopted on Thursday, September 1, the government decided to end the consumption compensation for all non-household consumers, as was the case in order 27/2022.

Thanks to the new regulation, the new beneficiaries are only SMEs, economic operators of the food industry and public institutions, which will be compensated for 85% of the average monthly consumption achieved in 2021, as well as public and private hospitals, public educational institutions and private, kindergartens and public suppliers public and private social services – for which total consumption is limited and compensated.

The rest of the industries, including telecommunications, will pay the full market price, without any compensation from the state budget.

Sources from the telecommunications industry have already told HotNews.ro that the changes adopted by the government will lead to additional costs of 400 million euros.