Moroni, Comoros - The Comoros government has set up a committee to address the crisis resulting from the granting of the management of international calls to Vocalpad, a foreign company. The committee comprises the Department of Telecommunications, the National Agency for the Regulation of Information and Communication Technologies (ANRTIC) and the Comoros Telecoms company.

Comoros Telecoms workers embarked on a 24-stoppage last Thursday demanding the cancellation of the decree granting Vocalpad the management of international calls in the country.

'The government should suspend the granting of the single gateway to Vocalpad before we accept to hold discussions,' Saadi Amerdine, union representative and Head of the Switching department at Comoros Telecoms, said.

Minister of Economy Oubeid Mzé Chei has dismissed the protest as “unfounded”, saying the contract with Vocalpad benefits the state.

'This single gateway platform will allow the country to put an end to illegal practices...on the network,' the minister said.

Pana 21/02/2011