ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria’s two telecommunication companies have significantly increased their prices, sparking public anger in a country where the United Nations estimates as much as 90 percent of the population is living in poverty.
Syriatel announced a change to their call and data bundles in a social media post on Thursday, calling it a “unification of bundles.”
It canceled popular daily bundles that used to cost 500 Syrian pounds ($0.04) and replaced them with a weekly bundle offering fewer services at a price of 12,000 pounds ($0.54). The cost of monthly internet has gone up to 180,000 Syrian Pounds ($16.30), which is equivalent to 20 percent of the income of the average government employee, according to ANHA news.
MTN has also increased prices.
Syrians reacted with anger on social media, protesting the price hikes, poor coverage, lack of internet access, and a lack of transparency regarding changes in the operators’ management. People reacting to the price hikes have demanded an end to the monopoly of the two companies.
The interim government is reportedly making changes to the management of Syriatel and MTN, though no public announcements have been made.
Earlier in November, Damascus announced a 60 percent increase in electricity rates justifying the move as necessary to cover expansion and repair expenses. This also drew criticism from Syrians struggling to make ends meet.
Syriatel announced a change to their call and data bundles in a social media post on Thursday, calling it a “unification of bundles.”
It canceled popular daily bundles that used to cost 500 Syrian pounds ($0.04) and replaced them with a weekly bundle offering fewer services at a price of 12,000 pounds ($0.54). The cost of monthly internet has gone up to 180,000 Syrian Pounds ($16.30), which is equivalent to 20 percent of the income of the average government employee, according to ANHA news.
MTN has also increased prices.
Syrians reacted with anger on social media, protesting the price hikes, poor coverage, lack of internet access, and a lack of transparency regarding changes in the operators’ management. People reacting to the price hikes have demanded an end to the monopoly of the two companies.
The interim government is reportedly making changes to the management of Syriatel and MTN, though no public announcements have been made.
Earlier in November, Damascus announced a 60 percent increase in electricity rates justifying the move as necessary to cover expansion and repair expenses. This also drew criticism from Syrians struggling to make ends meet.
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