Telekom Austria Group's response
América Móvil has forwarded us your inquiry regarding Telekom Austria Group’s position towards the below mentioned report on Belarus. Globally, telecommunications companies are obliged to supply the authorities with technical interfaces for “lawful interception”. This also applies to the telecom operators in Belarus. Therefore, our subsidiary Velcom also complies with this legal obligation, exactly to the extent that is defined by law, and only after careful consideration of the legal framework. The framework for the surveillance is always made transparent and complied with in detail. After establishing the above mentioned interfaces, authority access happens without assistance and without the knowledge of the operator. We as Telekom Austria Group (and therefore our subsidiary Velcom) are aware of the political environment and human rights issues.