Latvian telecoms watchdog the Public Utilities Commission (Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulesanas Komisija, SPRK) has implemented new rules, under which cellcos must alert their subscribers when they are about to make high-tariff calls.
The regulations – dubbed ‘Provisions for informing end-users about high tariff calls’ – came into effect on 1 January 2018 and oblige mobile providers to play a voice message warning subscribers of the higher tariff before connecting a call to another network which would incur charges of more than EUR0.0298 (USD0.036) per minute (excluding VAT). The level of cost designated as a ‘high tariff’ was determined by the regulator. The voice message warning must be free-of-charge. The SPRK notes that the measures will help subscribers reduce the risk of incurring ‘excessively high’ invoices.