Unefon Continues Charging Customers for Axtel Calls

Mexican mobile operator Unefon will continue charging its clients for calls originating from fixed line operator Axtel until it adopts the national calling party pays (CPP) scheme, according to a statement on Unefon's website.

Under CPP, an Axel customer would pay for the call, but because it has not yet embraced the scheme, Unefon customers will continue footing the bill.

Axtel and its recent acquisition Avantel have obtained a court ruling allowing them to temporarily opt out of the plan to extend the CPP scheme to domestic fixed to mobile calls. The CPP system went into effect on November 4.

According to a message for subscribers on Unefon's website, authorities requested Unefon to adopt the measure.

Local press have reported Unefon and fellow mobile operator Iusacell as lodging formal grievances with the country's telecoms regulator Cofetel, accusing Avantel and Axtel of fraud for using calling cards to connect customers, thereby avoiding the CPP scheme.

Fixed line operators Maxcom and Alestra also initially resisted the CPP scheme, but then chose to adopt it in mid-December."

Posted to the site on 9th January 2007