TP pulls the plug on Netia's premium rate services

The decision was made in January but due to procedural mistakes it was only implemented recently. According to TP the main reason behind the move was that Netia failed to introduce a security system protecting TP subscribers from fraud. "Most of the dialers (software used to connect the PC with the Internet) that are used to connect subscribers with Netia numbers starting with 0-708 do not meet basic security conditions for premium rate services," explained TP representative Barbara Górska. Netia, however, perceives the move as another round in TP's battle with its competition. "TP is trying to limit our presence on the market and it makes us upset," said Netia spokesperson Jolanta Ciesielska. Analysts speculate that the real reasons behind terminating the deal could be the negotiations over TP and Netia's new framework agreement concerning all kinds of services, premium rate included, and that this was just a strategic move. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 8) D.W.