Press Releases

Budapest, January 9, 2003

From February 1 Matáv is changing its regulated tariffs and introducing new "Felező" (Half rate) and "Felező plusz" (Half rate plus) tariff packages with which at least half of the monthly fee can be used up for call charges. Following Decree No. 3/2002 (01.21) MeHVM of the Minister heading the Prime Minister's Office that provides for the increase of regulated tariffs, Matáv may increase its regulated telephone tariffs in 2003 by an average of 2 percent at annual level. As in the previous years Matáv will raise its regulated prices much below the inflation rate.

Favorable changes from February 1


From February 1 switching fees decrease by 5.88% from HUF 4.25 to HUF 4 (including VAT) for the Bázis, Csevegő and Sokatmondó tariff packages.

Classification of countries in international tariff zones will also change, resulting in a significant decrease of fixed-line and mobile call charges to 28 countries. The most favorable change will be made in respect of fixed-line calls to Slovenia and Croatia, these tariffs decrease by 41.94%. Charges of fixed-line calls to Romania and Yugoslavia will decrease by 29.03%, while to Slovakia, Poland and the United States by 18.18%. Charges of mobile calls to France will be reduced by 24.14% while to Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic by 22.73%. Reclassification to another tariff zone results in adverse change only for Macedonia, only for calls to the mobile network.


New tariff packages: Felező and Felező plusz


From February 1, 2003 Matáv is introducing new "Felező" (Half rate) and "Felező plusz" (Half rate plus) tariff packages with which at least half of the monthly fee can be used up for call charges and no switching fee is charged. Calculation of telephone costs will become very simple since both local and long-distance calls will be charged with HUF 25 tariff (including VAT) in all times of day. This means that the offer to use up a certain amount for call charges becomes available also to residential customers. The "Felező" tariff package is recommended primarily to customers generating low telephone traffic. With this tariff package half of the Bázis package monthly fee (HUF 1,605 from the HUF 3,210, including VAT) can be used up for making calls so more than one hour's telephone calls to fixed line numbers can be made free of charge. The "Felező plusz" package for higher monthly fee (HUF 6,000 including VAT) is recommended for customers generating higher telephone traffic. With this tariff package more than half of the monthly fee can be used up for making telephone calls (HUF 3,600 including VAT). Both local and long-distance calls are charged with HUF 23 tariff (including VAT) in peak period and HUF 15 (including VAT) in off-peak period. This means that more than three and a half hours' telephone calls to fixed line numbers can be made each month for the monthly fee.
With both Felező packages international, mobile and Internet tariffs are identical with those of the Bázis tariff package.


Changes in tariff packages


The analog line monthly subscription fee for Bázis, Csevegő, Sokatmondó and Ritmus tariff packages will increase by 4.24% on the average from February 1. For residential main lines the fee will change from HUF 3,080 to HUF 3,210, for business main lines from HUF 4,150 to HUF 4,280 (all amounts including VAT). For residential party lines the fee will change from HUF 1,225 to HUF 1,470, for business party lines from HUF 1,387.5 to HUF 1,625 (all amounts including VAT).

With Bázis tariff package local call charges will increase on the average by 4.57% reckoning with the reduction in the switching fee, charges for long-distance 2 calls in peak period to the networks of other service providers will rise on the average by 19.59% while the off-peak period tariffs remain unchanged.

The Minimál tariff package monthly subscription fee will rise by 5% from HUF 1,750 to HUF 1,837.5 (including VAT) with unchanged long-distance 3, international and mobile tariffs so the average tariff will decrease in these directions due to the reduction in the switching fee. For long-distance 2 calls the off-peak period tariffs will remain unchanged, the peak period tariffs rise with the same rate as the Bázis package long-distance 2 peak period calls. Minimál package local call charges will increase on the average by only 3.25% due to the reduction in the switching fee.


Tariffs remaining unchanged


Charges of long-distance calls to other than Matáv's network remain unchanged. Charges of calls to mobile numbers and international call also remain unchanged. Kontroll package tariffs and call directions will not change. Ritmus package tariffs and switching fee will not change either.

The discount offers connected with Csevegő, Kontroll, Minimál, Ritmus100, Ritmus200, and Sokatmondó tariff packages will remain applicable.

The charge of one tariff pulse used with coin-operated public payphones and cardphones will remain HUF 20 (including VAT). However public payphone telephone tariffs for local calls will increase on the average by 6.06% due to the change in pulse length, while long-distance 2 tariffs in peak period rise by 19.43%. Tariffs of calls to long-distance 3, international and mobile numbers will remain unchanged.