Telecom minister says ministry is studying prepaid top-up controls

The Telecommunications Minister told MTV that the ministry has instructed the two mobile operators to address revenue leakage from prepaid top-ups, saying citizens are paying for the service but the proceeds are not reaching the companies and, consequently, the public treasury. He said the ministry will not allow the service to be exploited on the Black Market and that existing balances on the lines are preserved. He added that the two companies must submit a comprehensive proposal to the ministry within a specified deadline to regulate the mechanism and secure the revenues needed for maintenance and development, after which the ministry will make its decision. He also said the days top-up service is being exploited in the Black Market and that the ministry is studying canceling it, transferring dollars between prepaid lines, and limiting top-ups to recharge cards.