PM Vlad Filat requested the National Competition Protection Agency to establish whether the national telephony operator Moldtelecom acted in violation of the competition rules when it decided to raise domestic calling rates, Info-Prim Neo reports. Filat described Telecom's move as “defying and lacking common sense”. The new rates will become effective from March 1, with the cheapest monthly subscription of 6 lei being available to war veterans only. Pensioners, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups will be able to contract a 15 lei subscription. Others will have to choose from monthly subscriptions ranging from 30 and 75 lei. Moldtelecom said the measure was intended to eliminate a phenomenon of cross subsidization – when losses related to domestic telephony are covered through overcharging on international calls.