ComCom member Vakhtang Abashidze delivered a report on the projects of the Commission at the joint meeting of the Committees on European Integration and Branch Economy and Economic Policy on Protection of Consumer Rights. “All projects of the Communications Commission are focussed on consumer interests. Therefore, our main priority is to create a favourable environment for consumers, both in terms of developing telecommunications services and creating favourable conditions for those services,” Mr. Abashidze stated. 

During his report, Vakhtang Abashidze reviewed the statistics of consumer complaints for 2024. According to him, the Consumer Ombudsman Service of the Communications Commission received more than 2,959 complaints last year, which is more than in previous years. The majority of the complaints concerned the placement of unauthorised products online, damage to electronic communication networks, as well as the terms for service restriction/termination, and issues related to poor quality of the internet. Mr. Abashidze also pointed out that the Consumer Ombudsman's Office held 125 informational meetings last year, where it provided consumers with detailed information on the protection of their rights. He further highlighted the high level of engagement on ComCom's social media platforms, where 600 messages were received last year about the quality of telecom services and media literacy projects, to which the Commission responded promptly. 

During his speech, Vakhtang Abashidze also talked about the Sheamotsme.ge project which, according to him, was created to protect consumer rights and allow them to measure the speed and quality of fixed internet. Since the launch of the platform, the website has registered a total of 806,200 users. 

Vakhtang Abashidze highlighted the Log-in Georgia project, which is co-funded by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, and has been implemented since 2020 to support the Georgian State Internetization Programme: “Since the start of the project, the company Open Net, with the support of the Communications Commission, has already built a 1300 km fibre-optic network that provides 150,000 people with internet access. Last year, the fibre-optic infrastructure was extended by 500 km, which enabled internet access for more than 30,000 people. In total, the project aims to provide around 500,000 people in 1000 villages and rural settlements in Georgia with access to affordable high-quality internet services.” 

The committee also heard about the Digital Support Programme, which is implemented by the Communications Commission in order to raise digital awareness among the rural population, teach them how to use the internet purposefully, and facilitate their involvement in the digital economy. Mr. Abashidze noted that last year, the programme covered 65 target villages and settlements in the municipalities of Tsageri, Lentekhi, Zugdidi, Abasha and Khobi. More than 200 seminars were held for 2700 beneficiaries, who were trained free of charge. 

Vakhtang Abashidze also focussed on media literacy projects and emphasised that in 2019-2024, ComCom trained 16,200 pupils, 6,000 teachers and 1,800 university students in order to enhance their media literacy skills, as well as critical and logical thinking. The Commission held a total of 980 seminars and information meetings, while the total number of beneficiaries of media literacy projects and programmes exceeded 30,000. 

In addition, Mr. Abashidze talked about the comprehensive study of the Georgian telecom sector, which is one of the largest of its kind conducted by the Communications Commission. According to the commissioner, the project assessed the current environment on the mobile and fixed markets, and determined that the markets are uncompetitive and in need of ex-ante regulation. One of the operators was also found to have significant power on both markets, and had specific obligations imposed on them by the Commission in order to enhance competition and create a broad choice of services for the consumers. 

The commissioner also talked about the results of the auctions announced by ComCom for the implementation of 5G internet, which were won by Cellfie Mobile and Magticom. Both operators have been able to implement high-quality internet services. 

At the end of his speech, Vakhtang Abashidze announced that the Commission has approved regulations on accessibility of audiovisual products for disabled people in line with the European Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The new rules oblige media service providers to gradually make their production accessible to people with disabilities, which involves the introduction of subtitles, sign language, and audio description. In addition, the Commission has devised the rules for the online portal that can be used by people with disabilities to submit a complaint to the Public Defender's Office. 

The session discussed important issues related to consumer rights protection, including referral trends, statistics, enforcement problems, significant achievements, and the future vision for improving the current situation.