ISTANBUL, Turkey-Turkcell said Turkey’s Telecommunication Authority has fined the mobile operator $64.1 million, claiming Turkcell made inadequate annual frequency usage fee payments.
TA has demanded $11.3 million for insufficient payment and an interest charge of $7.6 million. TA also ordered Turkcell to pay an additional $45.1 million as an administrative penalty.
According to regulations, Turkcell said frequency usage fee claims should arise only for subscribers who actively use their mobile phones. TA claimed Turkcell also should pay these fees for subscribers whose inactivity may be temporary.
“Turkcell believes that the TA’s calculations of the required frequency fee payments are unfair and not balanced,” said the operator. “Turkcell believes that the TA’s decision is due to a misinterpretation of the applicable regulations, and that the magnitude of the administrative penalty is surprising. Turkcell will take the necessary legal actions against the TA’s ruling.”
