Argentina’s government has announced that fixed and mobile telephony, internet and pay-TV prices are to be frozen over the next 4 months to help family budgets affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made following a meeting between the country’s president Alberto Fernandez and Claudio Ambrosini, head of communications regulator Enacom, with Ambrosini subsequently confirming that operators will be ordered to suspend price hikes until 31 August to enable all Argentinians to continue accessing what has become an essential service during the health crisis.
The move comes other Argentina followed other Latin American countries including Mexico, Chile and Peru in launching a free minimum services bundle for users unable to keep up to date with payments. Anyone who can demonstrate a reduction of 50 percent or more in their economic capacity as a result of the emergency can apply for a bundle including a minimum of 300 minutes of calls, free calls to emergency numbers, unlimited incoming calls, internet access at speeds of 2 Mbps and access to at least 15 pay-TV channels for fixed line subscribers, plus 300 minutes of voice calls, 300 SMS and data-free access to WhatsApp plus educational, news and health websites for mobile subscribers.
The “reduced service” prepay bundle will be provided until at least 31 October, said Enacom, adding that operators have also agreed not to lay off any staff before 31 August.
