Damascus government raises prices of telephone, internet services

The General Authority for Regulating Telecommunications and Postal Services, affiliated with the Damascus government, announced an increase in the prices of landline and internet services by 30% to 35%. 

The announcement stated that "the implementation of the new wages will begin starting Sunday, 1/9/2024, and the detailed new wages for Syrian Telecommunications services will be published on its official website and social media pages." 

The official announcement did not mention any justifications for this price increase, at a time when the vast majority of Syrians are suffering from worsening poverty amid a daily erosion of the purchasing power of wages, which are not keeping pace with the nominal increases that are far outstripped by rising prices. 

It is noted that the Communications Authority mentioned that "there will be no changes to the initial installation fees," and "without any increase in the fees for cellular communication services," according to its statement. 

The decision faced a wave of ridicule and outrage on social media, where Daniel commented mockingly: "Yesterday they were gathered as if they wanted to improve the living conditions, and then they went and raised the prices. So how is the employee supposed to pay the bill if their entire salary has become just the cost of the bill?" 

For her part, Miral Amer commented: "This means rebuilding from the pockets of citizens, and if every ministry does this, people's homes will be destroyed, and the final result will be neither reconstruction nor any achievement, and the funds will flow into the pockets of the corrupt system that grows more monstrous every day, increasing its greed for money because those who are assured of impunity misbehave." 

Tariq Abu al-Khatab commented in turn and wrote: "So when are you going to adjust the employees' salaries so they can survive and continue working in their jobs?" 

It is noted that the decision to increase fixed-line phone services coincided with news about raising the costs of mobile calls and internet services. Which has been circulating on Facebook for several days.

T/ Satt.

ANHA