Telecommunications Companies in Bulgaria: Challenges and Opportunities in a Social Isolation Environment due to COVID-19 ()
ABSTRACT
The period of lockdown due to the new coronavirus spreading convinces the
public all over the world that the activity and the working of
telecommunication companies are of crucial importance for the normal
functioning of the economy and the society as a whole. This paper examines the
activities and politics of the leading Bulgarian mobile network operators in an unprecedented stressful situation and under
the increased supervision of the regulatory body during the state of emergency
imposed by the government (13 March-13 May 2020). The methodology relevant to
this purpose consists of descriptive and analytical tools, including interviews
with representatives of telecommunications companies and Communications
Regulation Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria. The pandemic situation
brings network operators higher revenues, a rise in consumption of digital
services and the opportunity to convince the public of their growing corporate
and social responsibility. Along with the privileges, the COVID-19 crisis
burdens telecommunications companies with the responsibility to maintain their
networks and operations in an environment of unprecedented overload, as well as
managing and mitigating the stress in society caused by the imposed deep and
sudden changes. This positive image of Bulgarian telcos can be threatened by
the intention of politicians to use mobile traffic data for tracking.
Share and Cite:
Miteva, N. (2020) Telecommunications Companies in Bulgaria: Challenges and Opportunities in a Social Isolation Environment due to COVID-19.
Open Journal of Business and Management,
8, 2729-2739. doi:
10.4236/ojbm.2020.86169.